Ukraine’s European integration: between mayhem and opportunity

Nine years since Ukraine’s Orange Revolution, a new national movement is under way, with hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians flooding into the street despite clashes with security forces.

As in 2004, Ukraine’s President, Viktor Yanukovych, is the target of the demonstrations following the decision of the government to “suspend” an Association Agreement with Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA), which it had hoped to sign at the Vilnius Eastern Partnership Summit. While the government said the decision was made in the interests of Ukraine’s national security, following a period of intensive economic and political pressure from Moscow, the decision was interpreted by many as a move to bring Ukraine closer to Russia.

This decision, coming after Armenia ditched its own agreement some two months earlier, has not only thrown Ukraine into turmoil, but has also knocked the stuffing out of the EU’s Eastern Partnership and taken the shine off the Vilnius Summit. Furthermore, it has underlined the fact that almost ten years since the launch of the European Neighbourhood Policy, the goals laid down – bringing peace, stability and security – are little closer to being met.