When you travel to Ukraine, you enter the country, full of paradoxes. Ukrainians are proud of their roots and reticent about their recent past; the country participates in international space programs and produces the world's largest aircraft, but still lives in the universe of superstitions.

Doing business here is not always easy, but guaranteed to be exciting. Socializing and friendliness outside the office will more than compensate for the setbacks.

Strong family ties and friendships have been a survival mechanism in Ukraine for centuries, be it in farming, when several families were pooling resources, or in times of hardship and crisis.

A network of good personal contacts is the most valued asset in getting something done.

The process of business negotiation can be quite long-winded. Most Ukrainians will start the dialogue with a long "warm-up" session about the journey, the family or proposed entertainment for the evening. Don't get impatient: any attempt to rush straight into business is considered rude. For Ukrainians the beginning of the meeting is a time for evaluating the individual, with whom one is conducting business.

While Western negotiators prefer mostly sequential approach and tackle every issue separately, Ukrainians tend to come to an understanding on the global picture first, before getting into the details of a proposition or a contract.

Sometimes a Ukrainian host may start negotiations with: "Well, this is how we see it and this is the result we would like to get. And what is your proposal?" Some Western counterparts are not always prepared for such an abrupt beginning. Consider your answer carefully, as your initial statement will be perceived as the backbone of your proposal.

Chronology:

• 5th-6th centuries: the fortified settlement on the right bank of Dnieper, as the predecessor to thepresent-day Kiev.
• 1918-1920 Ukrainian People's Republic - In the chaotic period the territory was a scene of many battles between the followers of different political standpoints.
• 1920 Incorporation in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.
• 1932-1933 Genocide in Ukraine – the collectivization has a devastating effect; 5-7 millions starved to death, since they were not allowed to receive any grain until the unachievable quotas were met.
• 1941-1945 During the World War II the vast majority of the fighting between German and Soviet troops took place on the Ukrainian territory.
• 1945 Ukrainian Soviet Republic was enlarged by the territory of Poland – the land with the Ukrainian population was reunited with the rest of the Ukraine.
• 1991, August 24^th - after the referendum the Ukrainian parliament (Verkhovna Rada) adopted the Act of Independence in which the parliament declared Ukraine as an independent democratic state.

Monday - Fiday: 9.00am – 1.00pm and 2.00pm - 6.00pm.

Saturday: 9.00am – 4.00pm.

Legally permitted opening hours:

Monday - Friday: 8.00am – 7.00pm.

Saturday: 9.00am – 3.00pm.