Ukraine gained independence after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 and has since veered between seeking closer integration with Western Europe and being drawn into the orbit of Russia, which sees its interests as threatened by a Western-leaning Ukraine.

Europe's second largest country, Ukraine is a land of wide, fertile agricultural plains, with large pockets of heavy industry in the east.

While Ukraine and Russia share common historical origins, the west of the country has closer ties with its European neighbours, particularly Poland, and nationalist sentiment is strongest there.

Read the article attached to the post about Ukraine. Watch the news report above and offer your views about why Ukraine is strategically important to many countries, but particularly the USA & Russia.

You can read more about Ukraine here and understand the significance of referring to Ukraine as 'The Ukraine' and simply 'Ukraine' here.