By Santiago Losada
In 2014, the European Union and Ukraine signed an economic association agreement which was seen as a first step for Ukraine to one day join the EU. The core of the deal would be to provide a mutual trade pact in which tariffs would be lowered, intensive reforms of the economy, government, and institutions and a path for Ukraine to increase its European integration. When former President Victor Yanukovych refused to sign the deal, this led to the famous Maidan Revolution. There were massive protests that eventually deposed the government and forced Mr. Yanukovych to flee the country. As a response to Ukraine’s turn towards Europe, Russia then annexed Crimea and also sparked the war in the Donbas.
The European Council of Foreign Relations states that Ukraine’s transition into a successful European country is paramount for the EU because it will give a renewed sense of importance. With the refugee crisis and Brexit, the EU is struggling to project of picture of stability in Europe. They should not leave Ukraine to fend against Russia because it will only weaken them. It will make other countries in the region including EU and NATO members like Poland feel that Europe does not really care that much about them. At the same time though, not every EU member is ready to accept Ukraine with open arms. According to the Wall Street Journal, the trade deal’s signing has boosted Ukraine’s exports to the EU and has been ratified by all EU member states except the Netherlands.
The Netherlands decision not to ratify the trade association shows that not everyone in Europe is ready and willing to accept Ukraine. The Netherlands refusal is also detrimental to the EU establishment because it could set an awkward precedent in which other member states could demand to sit on the sidelines of a trade or political deal. The Netherlands serves as an example of how shaky Russian policy is to the European Union. Since Russia has banned half of the EU’s imports of food and agricultural products, some radical and extremist parties have also begun to appear in EU countries in which their position is one that eases tension with Russia.
For Ukraine, this extremism is especially troubling because it shows that there is no unity inside the EU. Ukraine needs the European Union to be unified in order to successfully deter Russia. The Daily Signal reports that Ukraine needs its partners to show patience and persistence to Russia and continue in their sanctions policy in order for Russia to feel the consequences of violating international law.