Relations Between Russia and Ukraine
Since the "Orange Revolution"in 2004—the mass protests over the falsified results of the presidential elections in November-December 2004, which led to the formation of a new pro-Western government—Ukraine has been the focus of considerable attention in the mass media as well as at official levels in the EU and NATO states and in Russia.During the "Orange" Events--presidential runoff elections, the West and Russia supported opposing political forces in Ukraine. The west supported Victor Yushchenko ,who proclaimed the values of liberal democracy for Ukraine and aspired to give Ukrainian foreign policy a Western orientation, aiming at EU and NATO membership. By contrast, Russia backed Victor Yanukovych(Ukrainian government's candidate, Prime Minister),who called for closer Russian-Ukrainian relations, promising to integrate Ukraine into the Single Economic Space, led by Russia.Yanukovich won the official ballot. However, protests launched by opposition candidate Viktor Yushchenko over alleged election fraud --- combined with strong international pressure --- caused the results to be overturned. Victor Yushchenko won the new election finally and became the new president of Ukraine. The final victory of Mr.Yushchenko was interpreted both in Ukraine as well as internationally as the victory of the West over Russia. It seems that with the victory of Western-Oriented Yushchenko,the relations between Russia and Ukraine will be seriously deteriorated. The truth, however, is that the relation between them getting closer instead of deterioration. Jan 24,2005,the second day after the inauguration ceremony of Ukraine president, Yushchenko visited Moscow, aiming at
improving the relation between Russia and Ukraine which had been negatively impacted by the presidential election. It shows that Mr.Yushchenko,who is Western-oriented, still have to keep a good relation with Russia because of a variety of considerations such as politics,economy and security. On the other hand, Russia President Putin visited Ukraine on Mar 19,2005, two leaders deeply exchange the ideas about the bilateral relation.Yushchenko then declared at the press conference that the relation between two countries is moving toward the direction of the most constructive one. What's more, leaders of both countries have declared in several occasions that the relation between Russia and Ukraine, especially the economic and cultrural relation, cannot be replaced by anything.[1] Experts all think that the negtive influences to the relation between Russia and Ukraine brought by the presidential election in Ukraine are gradully disppearing.
One may ask,why the relation between Russia and Ukraine getting closer instead of deterioration after the "Orange Revolution"? What are the reasons thereof?
A glance at the interdependent relation between Russia and Ukraine on several areas such as economy,politics may leads us to answers.
[1] news.xinhuanet.com/world/2005-01/08/content_2430916.htm
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