Foreign relations of Ukraine
Ukraine considers Euro-Atlantic integration its primary foreign policy objective, but in practice balances its relationship with Europe and the United States while attempting to sever its considerable ties to Russia.
[9] They resulted from a declaration by the G7 countries at a NATO Summit in Washington on 12 July 2023, concluding the establishment of a framework of bilateral security agreements of long-term military, materiel and economic support for Ukraine's defence.
[9] The bilateral agreements prioritised strengthening Ukrainian air defence systems, artillery, long-range strike capabilities, armour, and combat aviation to fend off Russian military aggression.
The two sides have signed a series of agreements on the final division and disposition of the former Soviet Black Sea Fleet that helped to reduce tensions.
[50] The 1997 boundary treaty with Belarus remains un-ratified due to unresolved financial claims, stalling demarcation and reducing border security.
The maritime boundary through the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait remains unresolved despite a December 2003 framework agreement and on-going expert-level discussions.
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin allegedly declared at a NATO-Russia summit in 2008 that if Ukraine would join NATO his country can contend to annex the Ukrainian East and Crimea.
As of April 2024, Russia has annexed the Crimean peninsula and partly four other regions of Ukraine: Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia.
Russia took advantage of this political instability to annex Crimea in March 2014, though Ukraine still claims sovereignty over the territory by any kind of international law.
In December 2015 Russian hackers reportedly hacked Ukraine's power grids leading to a blackout and widespread terror.
Ukraine and Romania have settled their dispute over the Ukrainian-administered Zmiyinyy (Snake) Island and the Black Sea maritime boundary at the International Court of Justice.
Since their independence from the Soviet Union, both countries consider each other as strategic partners and have forged close political and cultural relations.
The close friendship between Presidents Mikheil Saakashvili and Viktor Yushchenko has also played an important role in recent political and cultural unity of the two countries.
Diplomatic relations between both countries were established in the early 1990s when Turkey became one of the first states in the world to announce officially their recognition of sovereign Ukraine.
This agreement enables Ukrainian citizens living in border regions to cross the Polish frontier according to a liberalized procedure.
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin allegedly declared at a NATO–Russia summit in 2008 that if Ukraine would join NATO his country could contend to annex the Ukrainian East and Crimea.
Starting in November 2013, the decision by Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych to back out of signing an integration agreement with the European Union started a period of civil unrest between Ukrainians who favored integration with the European Union and those who wanted closer ties with Russia, culminating in the Revolution of Dignity.
[237][238] Both countries share common membership of the Council of Europe, OSCE, Trilateral Security Pact, and the World Trade Organization.
