The climate in Ukraine is similar to the wheat-producing regions of Canada and is characterized by abundant precipitation and cloudy skies, especially in fall and winter. The mean temperature in summer is 67F (19C) and in winter 21 F (-6 C). Although summers tend to be short, the temperature can rise to the 90°F (30'C) making it uncomfortable, since most buildings have no central cooling systems. Winters are long and cold, with cloudy skies as a norm.

The population of Ukraine is approximately 52 million. 68% of the population is urban; 32% is rural.

The major cities: Kyiv - 2.6 million, Kharkiv - 1.6 million, Dnipropetrovsk - 1.2 million, Donetsk - 1.1 million, Odessa - 1.1 million, Lviv - 1 million. Population density is 85.7 persons per sq. km. Ukraine is inhabited by representatives of more than 110 nationalities. Ukrainians comprise 72.7% of the population, Russians - 22.1%, Jews, Belorussians, Moldovans, Bulgarians, Poles, Hungarians, Romanians, Greeks, Tatars, Armenians, Gypsies, and Germans - 5.2%.

The official language in Ukraine is the Ukrainian language. The Constitution of Ukraine guarantees and defends the rights of ethnic minorities.

6.8 million Ukrainians live in the countries of the former Soviet Union including some 4.4 million in Russia, 0.9 million in Kazakhstan, 0.6 million in Uzbekistan and 0.1 million in Kirghizstan.