ABSTRACT
It has been frequently argued, and rightly so, that the Ukrainian-Russian relationship is now of central, even overriding, importance for both peoples. Its scale alone is imposing, as it encompasses well over 200 million people. The issues involved—nuclear weapons, geopolitical implications, the economic and political integration or disintegration of a vast region—are of a magnitude that can exert a decisive impact on all of Eurasia. Moreover, for Ukrainians, the relationship with Russia has been—some would argue that it continues to be—a question not only of independence or dependence but of their very survival as a distinct nation. For Russia, it has often been noted, Ukraine is the great litmus test: if it accepts Ukraine as an independent and equal entity, Russia will be well on the way of becoming a responsible, law-abiding global citizen. But if it cannot, this might indicate that Russia is backsliding into neoimperialism. 1
