Like many of its Soviet era nation-peers in Eastern Europe and Asia, Ukraine became an independent state in 1991, upon the failure and dissolution of the Soviet Union. When Ukrainian Independence was established, it inherited several significant geopolitical problems. First and foremost among these was the question of its national security. With the Soviet Union no longer providing a buffer between Ukraine and its Western neighbors, the country had to find new ways to protect itself from potential aggressors.
With the Soviet Union gone, there was no longer a defensive insulator between Ukraine and its neighbors. This left the country vulnerable to attack from several potential aggressors, including Russia, Poland, and Belarus. In addition, Ukraine’s armed forces were in a state of disarray after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Many soldiers deserted their units, and those who remained were often poorly trained and equipped. This made it difficult for Ukraine to defend itself against potential aggressors. To complicate matters, Ukraine’s economy was in shambles after the collapse of the Soviet Union. The country faced several severe economic problems, including inflation, unemployment, and a lack of foreign investment.
Ukraine began to build up its military forces and establish cooperative relationships with several other countries to address these concerns. One of the first steps taken by Ukraine in this regard was the establishment of the National Guard in 1991. The National Guard is a paramilitary force responsible for the defense of the country’s borders and maintaining internal security. The National Guard has been involved in several operations, including the war in Afghanistan and Chechnya. In addition to the National Guard, Ukraine established the Ukrainian Army in 1992. The Ukrainian Army is a professional military force responsible for the country’s defenses. The army has been engaged in several conflicts over the years, including the wars in Iraq and Kosovo.
Ukraine has joined several international organizations to improve its international relations, including the United Nations and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. In 1994, Ukraine signed the treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. This treaty prohibits the spread of nuclear weapons and technology to non-nuclear states. It also requires nuclear states to assist non-nuclear states in the event of a nuclear accident or attack. The signing of this treaty was a significant step for Ukraine to improve its relations with the West. It also helped address some of the international concerns about Ukraine’s nuclear weapons program.
In addition to signing the treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Ukraine has also taken several other steps in recent years to improve its relations with the West. These include joining the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, and establishing diplomatic formal relations with several Western countries.
In 1996, Ukraine adopted a new constitution. This constitution established a presidential system of government, which gave the president a disproportionate share of power. The adoption of this constitution was a significant step for Ukraine to move towards a more democratic form of government. In the years since adopting the constitution, Ukraine has made several changes to its political system. These changes have been designed to increase the role of parliament and limit the president’s power.
In 2000, Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma was accused of ordering the assassination of a journalist who was critical of his government. This event, known as the Kuchma election scandal, resulted in mass protests and international condemnation of the Ukrainian government. The Kuchma election scandal was a significant setback for Ukraine’s efforts to improve its relations with the West. It also damaged its image internationally and made it difficult for the government to attract foreign investment.
In 2002, Ukraine held parliamentary elections. These elections were won by a coalition of pro-Western parties known as the Orange Coalition. The Orange Coalition was formed in response to the Kuchma election scandal. It was made up of several parties, including the “Our Ukraine” party, led by Viktor Yushchenko. The victory of the Orange Coalition in the parliamentary elections was a significant step forward for Ukraine’s efforts to move towards a more democratic form of government. It also paved the way for Viktor Yushchenko to become president of Ukraine in 2004. His election resulted from a mass protest movement known as the Orange Revolution.
The Orange Revolution was a series of protests and political rallies that were a response to overt Russian election interference. These elections had been falsely won by Viktor Yanukovych (not to be confused with Viktor Yushchenko), who Leonid Kuchma supported. The Orange Revolution was a significant success for Ukraine, resulting in the election of Viktor Yushchenko as president and the formation of a new government led by Yulia Tymoshenko.
In 2005, a new government was formed in Ukraine. This government, known as the Orange Government, was led by Yulia Tymoshenko, and was formed as a result of the Orange Revolution. It was made up of several pro-Western parties, including the “Our Ukraine” party and the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc. The Orange Government was short-lived, lasting only around one year. However, it was an essential step in Ukraine’s efforts to move towards a more democratic form of government.
In 2007, Ukraine adopted a new constitution. This constitution established a parliamentary system of government, which gives more power to parliament and lessened the president’s power. The adoption of this constitution was an essential step for Ukraine to move towards a more democratic form of government.
In 2013, Ukraine experienced a mass protest movement known as the Euromaidan Revolution (sometimes referred to as, simply, “Maidan”). The Euromaidan Revolution was a series of protests and political rallies in Ukraine that were responding to the government’s decision to cancel plans for closer economic integration with the European Union. The Euromaidan Revolution led to the ousting of then president Viktor Yanukovych from power and the installation of a new government led by Arseniy Yatsenyuk. The Euromaidan Revolution was a significant success for Ukraine’s pursuit of a more democratic system.
In retrosospect, Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 appears caustically responsive to the success of Ukraine’s Euromaidan Revolution. Crimea is a peninsula in the Black Sea, home to a Russian naval base. The annexation of Crimea was a major blow to Ukraine’s efforts to insulate itself from continued Russian aggression. It resulted in the international community imposing sweeping economic sanctions on Russia to attempt to dissuade it from continuing its aggression in the area.
In 2014, pro-Russian separatists in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine, many relocated or sent there from Russia by the Russian government, declared independence from Ukraine. These regions, collectively known as the Donbas, saw millions of Ukrainians displaced as a result. A cease-fire agreement, known as the Minsk Agreement, was reached in 2015. However, this agreement was repeatedly violated.
The conflict was severely escalated in February 2021, when Russia began a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on false-pretenses of national security. Russia’s authoritarian Kremlin enforces support for the war on its population with massive propaganda campaigns constructed of absurd fictional claims, false flag operations, and the threat of violence. The war in Ukraine has since become Europe’s bloodiest in over 75 years, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of soldiers and innocent civilians. It continues today, nearly a year from its beginning, with Ukraine continuing to receive unprecedented military and humanitarian aid from its Western allies, and the international community.
