The Ukraine crisis and EU-Russia relations

After the end of the Cold War, the European Union (EU) and the Russian Federation relations have advanced with bilateral agreements. Ukraine, which strived to gain independence after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, also affected the relations between Russia and the EU. EU's enlargement and neighborhood policies are in the particular concern of both Russia and Ukraine. In this context, the EU policies are in conflict with Russia's Near Abroad doctrine. Russia has quickly responded to the EU's enlargement and neighborhood policies. This situation has influenced the security of both the Eastern Europe and Caucasus. In the Ukraine Crisis, Russia's affect has been observed with the annexation of the Crimea and in the issue of the Eastern Ukraine. Voices from the Ukrainian streets indicated the Ukrainian people's desire for the EU membership, but this desire was not welcomed by Russia. In this context, according to Russia, Orange and Euromaidan Revolutions are affected by the EU policies. In general this study examines EU-Russia relations after the end of the Cold War, and in particular their confrontation with the Ukraine crisis. The bilateral relations will have important implications for the future of Ukraine and the Ukraine crisis is one of the important cases that indicates the difference in policies of Russia and the EU.