Proper Ukrainian business etiquette is essential to gain new partners and clients in the Ukrainian business community. It is easy to gain the respect of and impress your Ukrainian colleagues when you are aware of what they value and collaborate in their refined sense of etiquette, all of which will enhance your entry into the Ukrainian world of business.

1. Foreign Staffing, Inc.

2.  Proper Ukrainian business
etiquette is essential to gain new
partners and clients in the
Ukrainian business community.
 It is easy to gain the respect of
and impress your Ukrainian
colleagues when you are aware
of what they value and
collaborate in their refined sense
of etiquette, all of which will
enhance your entry into the
Ukrainian world of business.

3.  Know each person’s title and be sure to
address your Ukrainian colleagues with
the appropriate title and surname upon
initial meeting.
 If your Ukrainian colleague does not
have a professional or academic title,
use the prefix of “Pan” (for men) and
“Pani” (for women) followed by his or
her surname.
 Always shake hands with your Ukrainian
colleagues upon initial meeting.
 Maintain eye contact and repeat your
name during each handshake.
Remember to shake hands again when
departing.

4.  In order to become successful in this
international market it is vital to build
relationships.
 Ukrainians like to do business with
people they know and feel they can
trust.
 Allow small talk at the beginning of a
meeting in order for your Ukrainian
colleagues to get to know you.
 Be sure to wait for your colleague to
switch the conversation topic from
personal to business. Be diplomatic
and support your statements with
facts.

5.  When conversing with Ukrainian
colleagues you do not know very
well, be careful of their feelings when
delivering information.
 Once your colleagues know you
better, expect to engage in more
candid conversation.
 You shouldn’t expect to strictly follow
an agenda.
 Ukrainians see agendas as just
guidelines for further discussion, follow
their lead.

6.  Be sure to put academic titles on
business cards.
 Remember Ukrainians respect
academic degrees. Translate one
side of your business card into
Ukrainian.
 Go that extra mile and impress your
Ukrainian colleagues by providing
them with a Ukrainian translation of
all of your pertinent documents.

7.  Ukraine business meetings often take
place over meals which helps to build
relationships.
 You may be invited to a business
meeting with a meal in a colleague’s
home.

8.  Ukrainians operate under customary
gender roles.
 Ukrainian men will open doors for
women, pour their drinks and light
their cigarettes.
 Follow their lead of respect when
abroad.
 Be aware that some Ukrainians are
superstitious so avoid shaking hands
over a threshold or even passing an
object over a threshold, both of
these gestures are considered bad
luck.

9.  Dress formally and conservatively, with
men wearing suits and women wearing
suits or dresses.