ABSTRACT
Ukraine's policy towards Russia since independence in 1991 has been characterised by a predicament: how to preserve its statehood in the context of its heavy economic dependence on Russia, which was intent on Ukraine's participation in Russian-led integration projects. In this essay we argue that only by understanding the complexities and seeming contradictions in Ukraine's positioning vis-à-vis Russia can a full understanding of Ukraine's commitment to Russia's integration projects be attained. This essay systematically examines Ukraine's responses to Russia's initiatives and illuminates the strategy of the Ukrainian elites to extract economic benefits while minimising commitments.
