Chapter 1: Ukraine’s Path to Integration with the West (1991–2022)

This paper traces the political, economic, and security trajectory of Ukraine from the dissolution of the Soviet Union to the aftermath of Russia’s 2022 full-scale invasion. Drawing on historical and policy developments, it examines Ukraine’s initial state-building challenges, including severe economic contraction, weak institutions, and competing visions for geopolitical alignment. The study analyses the evolution of Ukrainian–Russian relations, the rise of oligarchic networks, and the impact of successive political crises—from the Orange Revolution to Euromaidan—on democratic reform and foreign policy orientation. Particular attention is given to Ukraine’s disarmament and the limited security guarantees of the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, as well as Russia’s increasing use of coercive tools, including energy pressure, information warfare, and military aggression. The paper further assesses Ukraine’s post-2014 transformation, highlighting the consolidation of public support for Euro-Atlantic integration and the recalibration of NATO and EU policies in response to Russian aggression. It concludes that Russia’s escalation in 2014 and 2022 fundamentally reshaped Ukraine’s strategic trajectory, driving sustained reform efforts and unprecedented Western backing for its prospective accession to the EU and NATO.