The Ukraine policy of the Russian Federation and the paradigms in European energy security

After gaining its independence from the Soviet Union on July 16, 1990, Ukraine has been stuck between the Russia and the West due to different domestic political structures. Moscow would like to keep Kyiv on its side because of latter's geopolitical, geoeconomical and geostrategical significance for itself within the context of its Wider Black Sea Policy. On the other hand, the Euro-Atlantic Bloc would like to see Ukraine within it. Moreover, the transportation of 66 percent of Russian gas to Europe via Ukraine makes this country a critically important one both within the European and Russian energy strategies. When that flow is interrupted, the European countries face very tough conditions. In November 2013, the refusal of then Ukraine administration under pro-Russian President Yanukovych in signing the EU Association Agreement caused the rebel movements of pro-Europeans against Yanukovych. Now, the Western Ukraine is controlled by pro-Western groups whereas Crimea and Eastern Ukraine are controlled by pro-Russians. The Western world makes pressure over Moscow for its Ukraine policy via applying sanctions. But Kremlin seems not to go backward from its existing stance in Ukraine as well as to develop new security and economic initiatives with other states. The use of Case Study Method with classical realist theory tries to open up a new window for understanding Russia's Ukraine Policy and its impacts on European energy security. The uncertainty on the future of current stalemate necessitates the close examination of this issue.