Ukraine - between Europe and Russia

While in most of Europe the Euro-scepticism is increasing, Ukrainian people are getting on the street with European flags in their hands. Coming nine years after the Orange revolution, which failed to realise its promises, these protests are done by a younger generation and aimed at the resignation of the President,  Mr Yanukovych – who rejected the new Association Agreement with the European Union. For them the choice between the Soviet past and a European future is not negotiable.

Ukraine is a priority partner country within the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) and the Eastern Partnership (EaP). The Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) which entered into force in 1998 provides a comprehensive framework for cooperation between the EU and Ukraine in all key areas of reform.

Source: The Economist

A new Association Agreement, including a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA), was negotiated in 2007-2011 and initialled in 2012. On 10 December 2012, the EU Foreign Affairs Council adopted the Council Conclusions on Ukraine. These affirmed the EU’s commitment to signing the Agreement (including the DCFTA) as soon as Ukraine takes determined action and makes tangible progress towards achieving the benchmarks set out in the Conclusions.

On 21 November 2013, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine took a decision to suspend preparations to sign the Association Agreement. Since then, Ukraine is again divided into two: the West and Centre of Ukraine who are mainly pro-Europe; and the more industrialised East (where a Russian minority lives) which is more inclined to Russia.

This division is nothing new. The western part of Ukraine formed during the Middle ages part of Poland-Lithuania – back then, one of the biggest states in Europe – and afterwards of the Austro‑Hungarian empire. The eastern part of Ukraine revolted in 1648 and was eventually absorbed by Russia. After World War II both parts were united again into the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic and became independent again when the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991.

Ukraine has to choose between East or West. As a journalist of the VRT, Jos de Greef, says: “The iron curtain hasn’t disappeared; it has rather shoved away to the East. Georgia and Ukraine have to decide on which side they want to be.”

Source: VRT; EEAS Europa; The Economist