Ukraine was established as an independent state in 1991 after the collapse of the Soviet Union. The former USSR member faced a difficult transition into stability and tensions between Russia and Ukraine live on because of the history between the two countries, North Atlantic Trade Organization (NATO)-Ukraine relations and the conflict between the two countries over Crimea. Both Russia and Ukraine are regional powers and conflict has arisen because of their power struggle as well. Though the power hegemony is important in the area, particularly to Russia, the countries depend on one another and cooperation is essential for regional stability. The countries must overcome their history which leads to the conflict over Crimea and come to peace
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This occurred when the corrupt, and increasingly undemocratic government led by Leonid Kuchma was overthrown by civilians and Vicktor Yushchenko was elected as president (Wolchik 335). With these regime changes, Ukraine has teetered in between the east and west in many ways. First, they are split ethnically and according to bbc.com’s article Ukraine Crisis in Maps, “Ukrainian is the main language in western regions - where there is also a long-standing aspiration for integration with Europe. However, Russian is predominant in parts of the east and south,” (Ukraine Crisis in Maps, bbc.com). Domestically, Ukraine is divided in basic political ideology along these ethnic lines and this is a factor which led to the series of conflicts in 2014 known as the Ukraine Crisis, which will be discussed later in greater …show more content…
According to Dr. Sean Kay in Global Security in the Twenty-first Century, “the CIS [established by the Minsk treaty in 1991] emerged as a loose confederation of twelve countries seeking to harmonize in various economic and security values,” (Kay 156). Moscow’s goals as a member of the CIS include facilitating regional crisis management, and limiting external influence on the CIS member territory in the name of protecting Russian people living in non-Russian CIS territory (156). This strong stance leaves little room for weaker states like Ukraine to be self-reliant as show by the instances when the Ukraine borrowed money from Russia. One particular example is the $3 billion Ukraine is supposed to pay Russia on December 20, 2015 in return for a Eurobond that Russian President Putin issued in December 2013, which some people are encouraging Ukraine not to pay because of the damage Russian troops have caused in Eastern Ukraine as well as the economic drop Ukraine has suffered from since Russia’s heavy involvement in the countries territory (NEWSWEEK.COM). Russia may have taken this stance as a CIS member because of it’s desire for regional hegemony. But according to Stephen Griffiths, “in terms of traditional account of power in the international system,
This occurred when the corrupt, and increasingly undemocratic government led by Leonid Kuchma was overthrown by civilians and Vicktor Yushchenko was elected as president (Wolchik 335). With these regime changes, Ukraine has teetered in between the east and west in many ways. First, they are split ethnically and according to bbc.com’s article Ukraine Crisis in Maps, “Ukrainian is the main language in western regions - where there is also a long-standing aspiration for integration with Europe. However, Russian is predominant in parts of the east and south,” (Ukraine Crisis in Maps, bbc.com). Domestically, Ukraine is divided in basic political ideology along these ethnic lines and this is a factor which led to the series of conflicts in 2014 known as the Ukraine Crisis, which will be discussed later in greater …show more content…
According to Dr. Sean Kay in Global Security in the Twenty-first Century, “the CIS [established by the Minsk treaty in 1991] emerged as a loose confederation of twelve countries seeking to harmonize in various economic and security values,” (Kay 156). Moscow’s goals as a member of the CIS include facilitating regional crisis management, and limiting external influence on the CIS member territory in the name of protecting Russian people living in non-Russian CIS territory (156). This strong stance leaves little room for weaker states like Ukraine to be self-reliant as show by the instances when the Ukraine borrowed money from Russia. One particular example is the $3 billion Ukraine is supposed to pay Russia on December 20, 2015 in return for a Eurobond that Russian President Putin issued in December 2013, which some people are encouraging Ukraine not to pay because of the damage Russian troops have caused in Eastern Ukraine as well as the economic drop Ukraine has suffered from since Russia’s heavy involvement in the countries territory (NEWSWEEK.COM). Russia may have taken this stance as a CIS member because of it’s desire for regional hegemony. But according to Stephen Griffiths, “in terms of traditional account of power in the international system,