British –ukrainian relationship

The Ukraine's ties with Great Britain stretch far back in history. Grand Prince of Rus Volodymyr Monomakh /1053-1125/ was married in 1074 to Gytha /? -7.V.1107/, a daughter of the English King Harold II /1022-66/who was defeated by William of Normandy at Hastings and was killed on October 14, 1066. Harold II was the last king of the Anglo-Saxon dynasty.

The outstanding tragic actor of the London theatre "Royalty" I.F. Aldridge/1805-1867/in 1858-67 went on tour in Russia and Ukraine. He met and made friends with the outstanding Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko. In 1858 T. Shevchenko painted the famous portrait of A. -F,Aldridge.

In 1869 the Welsh industrialist John Hughes founded a Ukrainian city of Donets'k, which was called before 1924 Hughesovka. The descendents of John Hughes visited Donets'k nd a foundation was established there to commemorate his name and to work for the rebirth of the Donbas region. The research worker of the Donets'k Museum of Regional Studies L. Vasilieva returned visit of friendship to London starting an active work of a new foundation. John Hughes was one many British investors. Now the independent Ukraine is Britain's second biggest trade partner among the CIS.

There are close relations of Ukraine with the Ukrainians in Great Britain. There is a magnificent statue of Prince Volodymyr, ruler of Kyivan Rus/980-1015/in London. The monument was erected by the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain. Volodymyr married Anna, sister of the Byzantine Emperor Basil II, and replaced paganism in Kyivan Rus with Christianity. Under Volodymyr and Anna, Kyiv became famous for its rich cultural life. Volodymyr established relations with the pope and European leaders.

The famous British town of Manchester boasts of the best Ukrainian Choir in Great Britain. The choir "Homin" is organized and conducted by Yaroslav Babuniak. The Ukrainian singers visited many countries in America and Europe and won many prizes.

Building close ties between the United Kingdom and Ukraine is an important British priority. Great Britain is taking particular steps to support Ukraine's policy of economical and political transformation.

The British Council maintains its support for civil service reform and English language training in Ukraine. In 1995 the first Ukrainian students came to Britain under the Foreign Office' Scholarship program.

The British-Ukrainian relations in the commercial sphere are coming into effect. Trade between the United Kingdom and Ukraine has risen. A new joint venture, British Ukrainian Shipbuilders, has been recently opened. It will benefit shipbuilding industries of both countries.

The joint British-Ukrainian venture to develop oil and gas fields in Crimea and Poltava Region shows the potential reward for cooperation.

8. Ви берете участь у міжнародній конференції економічного характеру. Представте зовнішньоекономічну політику України на цій конференції. External Economic Politics of Ukraine

1. Ukraine has a convenient geographical position in terms of international trade exchange.

2. After the collapse of the Soviet Union Ukraine’s national industries show low standards in comparison with those of other countries of the world. That’s why our country can not export many of it’s products, but it can export raw materials and especially agricultural products.

3. Because our country lacks fuel it has to import gas and oil from the eastern countries, mainly from Russia.

4. Today our country tries to organize joint enterprises with other foreign producers.

5. After gaining its independence, Ukrainian governments started economic reforms aimed at the establishing an open market economy and restructuring economy.

6. Ukraine’s major trading partners include Canada, Poland, Russia, Germany, Hungary

7. Today our country is trying to enter world economic organizations like WTO (World Trade Organisation).