ABSTRACT
Relations between Ukraine and the European Union, under the European Neighbourhood Policy and the newly launched Eastern Partnership Initiative, have undergone considerable progress in the development of multi-faceted forms of co-operation between the two sides. These include a gradual reorientation of the Ukrainian population westwards, and their incremental appreciation of European values, including those of democracy, freedoms and human rights. The 2010 presidential election serves as a testimony to Ukraine's growing commitment to European standards. On the negative side, however, a lack of balance between EU and Ukrainian interests can still be observed, as can a certain short-sightedness on the part of Brussels officials in treating Ukraine mainly as a cordon sanitaire between Europe and the post-Soviet territories. There is also a growing lack of motivation within the Ukrainian political elite to implement practical reforms, and this suggests limited partnership and transparency in Ukraine's relationship with the EU.
