A Gentleman’s Guide to the Ukrainian Dating Etiquette: Actually Working Tips For a Foreign Man

When the first euphoria of a blossoming relationship with a wonderful woman on one of the Ukrainian dating sites settles down, it’s time to move on to another important stage – real-life meetings and dating. Most probably, you’ll travel to her country for the first portion of the dating events, and then if everything’s fine, she will come to your place.

But between the relatively informal online communication and this moment when you welcome her into your home, there’s that period of time that defines the ending of your romancing story. We mean, there comes the dating period, when a woman (and you) both decide if you really have feelings for each other and if you are compatible enough to start building a family nest. Dating is a chance to get to know each other better while showing off your best selves.
Ukrainian dating rules may have some particularities, but in general, they are essentially the same as rules in your country. So there isn’t anything astonishingly tricky that you cannot master for the sake of winning her over. Online dating may also require a bit less effort or less spending, but the basics of dating behavior are the same.

• Dress nicely. Whether for an online or offline date, you need to take care to prepare. Clothes must be clean, a shirt needs to be pressed, and the overall style depends on your preferences. Just don’t show up dressed for a beer-soaked evening with buddies.
• Never skip the grooming. Neat hair, trimmed beard, or freshly shaved face are all essential components of a man’s grooming process. Good deodorant or perfume in moderation (applied to clean skin after a shower) is an advantage, but a good shower before the date is a must.
• Don’t be late, whether for an online or offline date. If you do have to delay the rendezvous, let her know in advance and say sorry.

• If you meet her in person for the first time, bring flowers, a big nice bouquet. One flower is OK for later stages of dating, but the first impression needs to be fantastic.
• Always, always be polite to a lady you have a date with, and treat her with respect. There may be a temptation to be less ‘formal’ or careful with your language while you date a woman from abroad, since you may get an idea that she desperately needs you no matter what. It’s not the case: it’s the mutual process of evaluation, and if you make some really big blunder, she may just cut off all contacts and look for a husband elsewhere. Not the outcome you want. So maintain respectful communication, especially if you consider that in Ukrainian marriage, women respect their husbands and expect respect in return. It’s fully reciprocal, so get in this groove early.
• Don’t put lots of bravado or ‘macho stuff’ into a date. This forced show of being ‘extra cool’ is easily detected, especially if a woman from abroad is looking for a husband. She will carefully assess everything you do, and the falsity of your behavior will be obvious to her. Just be yourself, the better version of yourself. Sounds dated and silly, but it’s the best Ukrainian dating advice – whether for dating or your married life.
• Don’t lie. If you are not a millionaire or a Nobel laureate or a great athlete, don’t pretend to be one. It’s usually a pitiful sight. Besides, you’re a grown-up man who has real accomplishments under his belt, or has a life of his own making, so why lie? Lies will become exposed, sooner or later, so you won’t build a happy life with Ukrainian women on this sandy foundation. Tell the truth - we are sure you have a couple of nice things to say about yourself - and it’ll be more appreciated.
• If you take her to a restaurant or the movies, offer to pay and be ready to pay if a woman agrees. Ukrainian brides are OK with the fact that you will be the main provider and they’ll be stay-at-home moms. But you’ll have to live up to this role. If you are ready to be a sole breadwinner, show it from the start, and be generous. If a woman declines and pays for herself, you’ll have to negotiate your finances and roles in marriage later. So any kind of response is a meaningful sign to you.
• Compliment her looks – sincerely (she has put lots of effort into her appearance for the occasion, like, picking clothes, styling her hair, and doing the makeup). Just don’t get too personal with compliments – say something nice in general, of the kind ‘you look amazing,' ‘you look great,' you get it. You may find that she’s dressed up a bit too much, but that’s the normal practice in her country, to dress up to the nines for any occasion, so don’t try to question her taste or, God forbid, mock it. That’s one of the tips on dating a Ukrainian woman that you may not find elsewhere, but it can make it or break it for you.
• You can say compliments about her eyes, smile, or hairstyle, like ‘oh, it’s so romantic,' ‘your smile makes my heart flutter and sing,’ you get it, but don’t fixate on her body (yet). Commenting on her shapes, legs, or more arousing parts will make you look like a womanizer who only wants to get her in his bed. There will come the time for hot dirty whispers, just a bit later – and Ukrainian wives can play this game, too.
• Plan the date – the place, the activity, the possible topics to talk about. It may be difficult for you if you come to her city and don’t know a single place, but that’s what review sites are for. Read the reviews and pick a restaurant or a café that is OK but not too pathetic. Or ask her opinion and follow the lead, if you are totally stuck.

• Don’t touch her a lot during the first date. Offer her your hand when she gets out of the car, and offer her to take you under your arm lightly when you walk together, but not more. Even the gentle touch on the lower back when you lead her through the crowd can seem too much on the first date for a Ukrainian woman.
• Be a good listener, attentive to what she has to say, ask simple questions about her job or hobbies to keep the conversation running. During the date, you want to make the best impression you can, and the surest way to do it is to show interest in her, not rant about yourself. So take your time listening, until she openly invites you to say something in exchange.
• Have safe topics to talk about. That’s job, hobbies, travel, vacations, the latest movies, the food you ordered, the city where you meet, something like that. If she starts talking about kids or family life as she sees it, you can venture into this area. If not, save the topics for later.
• Don’t try to kiss her on a first date. You may place a very light kiss on her cheek when you say goodbye, but only if she looks relaxed, and only a very light and brief one. The tips for dating Ukrainian woman on this delicate matter differ from those in other cultures: in general, in Ukraine, long informal kisses and hugs are reserved for close people only, and you are still making your way into this circle of the closest ones.
• Don’t get too explicit about your wish to have sex with her (on the first date or later) or how much she arouses you. It may seem natural to shape it as a compliment, but it’s not. It’s offensive, especially for Ukrainian girls who are usually touted as the erotic dream of every man alive. They are beautiful, but they want to be appreciated for who they are, not for their busts or booties.
• This one is a big no-no. Online dating and flirting may have made sending nudes almost a norm, but only for a certain number of users of younger age. Don’t try to pester her into sending you her nudes, if it is your first or second online date. It’s a sure path to losing her altogether. Later – maybe, if you become really close. But not during your first dates.
• After the real-life date, accompany her home, whether on foot or by taxi. No, don’t try to get inside her apartment, you’re not a student intoxicated with desire. You’ll have plenty of time for that when you start living together. In Ukrainian dating, as in every other sort of dating, this pestering is a recipe for disaster.
• Remember that she’s also nervous, and what you may perceive as aloofness or disliking most probably is just hidden awkwardness or shyness. So don’t take anything personally until she explicitly says so (which hopefully should not happen).
• Try to have fun as much as possible. When you both are strained and nervous, even the warmest of feelings can get extinguished. Be friendly, relax and let the lady relax, too. That’s when the real connection starts.

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Basically, that’s the crash course in Ukrainian dating etiquette. It does not differ much from dating a woman in your country, except that you can be more formally gentleman-y than usual and it will be appreciated. So that’s the chance to feel like you’re a real dandy and sleek gentleman in a top hat if you’ve ever dreamed about this experience. If not, observe the basic rules of decency and politeness and it will be fine, too.

As you see, the etiquette for dating Ukrainian woman is easy to master, so the key thing you have to do is to find that special woman from Ukraine and ask her out for a date. Make this first step now!