Ukraine’s Endeavour: Drawing Near(er) to the European Union

Abstract

Establishing kinship between the EU and Ukraine has certainly been a long and winding road, as many controversial events have happened after 1994 when the European Union and Ukraine concluded the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement which was a first milestone for mutual interests. The year 2004 has often been described as a missed opportunity for Europe as there was a highest expectation for Ukraine becoming part of the club. Since then, the clear membership perspective has been even more unattainable due to the dramatic changes in the political regime in Kyiv, and the Russian military interventions since 2014. Ukraine is a hostage to the EU-Russian relations—and the level of constructive dialogue between Brussels and Moscow is the lowest it has ever been. In this situation, the patriots of the country have no choice but to trust their own intuition and keep building the civil society, fight with corruption and improve educational and entrepreneurial environment as much as it is possible. We will honour those who, despite setbacks in international and internal politics, tirelessly strive towards the better Ukraine, the largest county of the continent. Since the launching of the European Union’s Eastern Partnership Programme (EaP), Ukraine has been involved in intensive negotiations with the EU, concerning the country’s European aspirations.