Ukraine in Search of Security by External Balancing to Russia: Its Cause and Effects

Abstract

The state and society of Ukraine has been for centuries in the process of identity converge between two. But a society where there is no homorganic majority of class, culture, geography and ideology the process of nation building is always complex business. The domestic and foreign policy of such a state is influenced domestic and regional factors. The Crimean crisis between Ukraine and Russia is such an example. The state of Ukraine has been in the process of change but the influence of its past Soviet era on the one side and the Russian cultural influence on its society and economic on the other side has prevented Ukrainian leadership from radicalisation of its foreign policy. Whereas, Ukraine geographical location and its larger geography is making it important for Western Europe and United States to engage with it in a strategic cooperation to contain Russian influence over Eastern Europe. For a state like Ukraine, which is in transition of its national building and creating its own independent national identity the possession of nuclear weapon or becoming part of regional balancing by engaging with North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) and European Union (EU) would not have prevented regional power Russia from annexation of Crimea from Ukraine. Given its fragile social structure, economy in transition, cultural and military influence of Russia on the region, it was unrealistic on the part of Ukrainian to challenge core Russian interests.