Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Ukraine) facts for kids
| Міністерство закордонних справ | |
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| Ministry overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | November 12, 1917 |
| Jurisdiction | Government of Ukraine |
| Headquarters | 1, Mykhailivska Sq, Kyiv |
| Employees | 2,000+ |
| Minister responsible |
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| Website | mfa.gov.ua |
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine (Ukrainian: Міністерство закордонних справ України, romanized: Ministerstvo zakordonnych sprav Ukrainy) is a special part of the Ukrainian government. Its main job is to handle Ukraine's relationships with other countries around the world. Think of it as Ukraine's main team for talking to other nations. The person in charge of this ministry is called the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Contents
History of Ukraine's Foreign Affairs
The idea of a foreign affairs ministry in Ukraine started a long time ago. It was first set up on November 12, 1917. Back then, it was called the General Secretariat of Nationalities. Its first leader was Serhiy Yefremov.
Later, on December 22, 1917, this office officially became a ministry. However, due to political changes, it was closed down in 1923.
After many years, the ministry was brought back in 1944. It has been working ever since, even after Ukraine became a fully independent country in 1991.
What the Ministry Does
The main building of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is in Kyiv, the capital city of Ukraine. It's located in an old, historic part of the city. You can find it near the beautiful St. Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery. The building is on Mykhailivska Square, which is named after the monastery.
The person who leads the ministry, the Foreign Minister, is chosen by the President of Ukraine. This is a bit different from most other government ministers. Most ministers are chosen by the Prime Minister of Ukraine. No matter who chooses them, all ministers must be approved by the Ukrainian Parliament.
Ukraine and UNESCO
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also helps Ukraine work with international groups. One important group is UNESCO. UNESCO is a part of the United Nations that focuses on education, science, and culture. Ukraine became a member of UNESCO on May 12, 1954.
Since 1962, Ukraine has had a special representative who works with UNESCO all the time. The National Commission of Ukraine for UNESCO was created in 1996. This group helps Ukraine work closely with UNESCO on different projects. It is part of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Ukraine has many schools and universities that work with UNESCO. This helps share knowledge and culture between Ukraine and the rest of the world.
Leaders of Foreign Affairs
Many important people have served as the head of Ukraine's foreign affairs over the years. They have worked to build strong relationships with other countries.
The current Minister of Foreign Affairs is Dmytro Kuleba. He started in this role on March 4, 2020.
See also
- Diplomatic missions of Ukraine
- List of national leaders of Ukraine
- Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the United Nations
- Public diplomacy of Ukraine
