Introduction: Global Europa? How, When and to Whom?

Abstract

In November 2013, Ukrainians were flocking to Kyiv’s central Independence Square, the Maidan Nezalezhnosti, in protest at President Viktor Yanukovych’s refusal to sign a new Association Agreement (AA) with the European Union (EU). Even though the demonstrations were primarily about internal Ukrainian issues, the demonstrators’ dissatisfaction with their government erupted around the question of Ukraine’s ties to the EU. In the months following the outbreak of the protest, Ukraine has substantially transformed. In July 2014, it was a different country than it was in November 2013, having de facto lost Crimea to Russia and facing substantial internal tensions as well as the breakaway provinces of Donetsk and Luhansk. In the meantime, the AAs with the EU were signed by the new Ukrainian government of Petro Poroshenko.