A Changed Reality: The Role of the Eu and the Us in the Transformation of Ukraine and Russia

The historical causes of Russia's conflict with Europe have not been settled and continue to threaten the stability of the Old Continent. As the last empire of Europe, Russia is undergoing a painful transformation and disintegration, leading to aggressive foreign policy measures. Previous Western attempts to democratise Russia have proven fruitless. Bearing this unsuccessful experience in mind, it seems that the most plausible option to ensure Russia's further development as a European democracy is to make Ukraine an economic, political and social success story–-a role model for Russian society that will work as a catalyst for bottom-up democratic changes in the country. In order to help Russia transform in the long run, the West must first concentrate on helping Ukraine by providing the country with real military guarantees, sufficient economic support for the implementation of structural reforms and an adequate level of geopolitical engagement, including the prospect of EU membership.