The Third Republic: Ukraine struggles its way through to Europe
The Third Republic: Ukraine struggles its way through to Europe

Author(s): Oleksiy Sekarev
Subject(s): Government/Political systems, EU-Approach / EU-Accession / EU-Development, Peace and Conflict Studies, Russian Aggression against Ukraine
Published by: ECEAP Estonian Center of Eastern Partnership
Summary/Abstract: After the Ukrainian People’s Republic of 1918-21 and the escape of the legitimate president, which sealed the fate of the independent Ukraine of 1991- 2013, the nation identified itself anew. The Euromaidan manifested Ukraine as a European nationstate and enters history in this capacity, not just as turbulence that resulted in a replacement of one ruling force by another. The price paid with a hundred lost lives marked the depth of the change and underlined the difference of the Euromaidan 2013- 14 from the Orange revolution of 2004. The loss of Crimea and tensions in the East became an acid test for the country. Lessons from both domestic developments since the independence and international reaction to changes in the Eastern Partnership region of the last decade will need to be learnt. Pivotal is however that the new Ukraine stands firm vis-a-vis the numerous new challenges, and builds up the national state on the basis of its own new experience and an effective international assistance.

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