Russia and the Ukraine - EU Association Agreement

Author(s): Robert W. Orttung
Editor(s): Stephen Aris, Matthias Neumann, Robert Orttung, Jeronim Perovic, Heiko Pleines, Hans-Henning Schröder, Aglaya Snetkov
Series: Russian Analytical Digest (RAD)
Issue: 142
Pages: 2-6
Publisher(s): Center for Security Studies (CSS), ETH Zurich; Research Centre for East European Studies, University of Bremen; Institute for European, Russian and Eurasian Studies, George Washington University
Publication Year: 2014

Russias efforts to block Ukraine from signing an Association Agreement with the EU helped to trigger a strong anti-Yanukovych street protest that has continued since November. Although it is not clear if Yanukovych would have signed the agreement without the intense Russian pressure, he is now facing a significant threat to his rule from angry citizens who want closer ties to Europe. The protests pose a strong challenge to Putins efforts to maintain stability in Russia while the EU has to figure out how to regain the momentum in spurring real reform in Ukraine.

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