Also known as the ‘Revolution of Dignity’ in Ukraine, Euromaidan began in November 2013 with civil protests in Kyiv demanding closer integration with Europe, and culminated in February 2014 with the ousting of President Yanukovych and the creation of a new government. The effects of the revolution are still felt in the region and globally today, particularly in relations between Russia and the West.
Key Events
Protests began when Ukrainian President Yanukovych suddenly and unexpectedly refused to sign a European Union Association Agreement due to Russian pressure. Ukraine and the EU had worked on the agreement for several years. Protests began because citizens demanded increased integration with Europe, but they soon shifted to call out corruption in the country. Ukraine ranked 144th globally in the Corruption Perceptions Index in 2013. The Yanukovych government was unable to discourage protesters, only making them more angry through the use of violence and anti-protest laws.
Euromaidan came to an end when Yanukovych fled the country for Russia. This allowed a new government to take over, with Petro Poroshenko elected as the new president in May 2014. Shortly after Yanukovych fled and was officially removed from his position, Russia used demonstrations against the new Ukrainian government, along with the significant ethnic Russian population in the region, as justification to annex Crimea.
Aftermath of Euromaidan
Russian Annexation: since the beginning of the conflict in eastern Ukraine began, there have been more than 13,000 casualties, including over 3,000 civilians. Recent escalations of tensions between Russia and Ukraine, as well as the West, do not indicate that this conflict is likely to come to an end soon.
EU Integration: the government that came into power following Euromaidan signed the EU Association Agreement in June 2014, and it came fully into force in September 2017. Many Ukrainians are optimistic that Ukraine will join the EU in the future.
Russia, Ukraine, and the West: the two Ukrianian presidents since the revolution, Poroshenko and Zelensky, have weaker ties to Russia than past Ukrainian presidents. Both expressed future hopes that Ukraine will join the EU and NATO in the future. This has brought Ukraine and Russia, neighbors and longtime allies, into opposition. The conflict between Russia has also caused significant damage to relations between Russia and the West at a time when tensions are already high.
Images from Euromaidan
