The Ukrainian people and their government have accomplished much since regaining independence in 1991—in terms of political and economic reform and in building constructive foreign relations with the West and Russia. The record is impressive, perhaps the most impressive of any state to have emerged from the defunct Soviet Union, with the exception of the Baltic nations. There have also, however, been many shortfalls and setbacks: an inability to reach political compromises; pervasive corruption; lack of a generally accepted constitutional framework; and government intervention in markets, impeding progress toward a market economy.
This report, commissioned by the U.S.-EU Partnership Committee for Ukraine, provides a net assessment of Ukraine's achievements and shortcomings over the last 16 years. The report examines developments in the areas of governance, economics, energy, the military, and international relations. And it offers a series of priority recommendations for Ukraine—as well as for the European Union and the United States—in order to continue progress in those areas.
Janusz Bugajski is director of the New European Democracies Project at CSIS. Steven Pifer is a senior adviser in the CSIS Russia and Eurasia Program and a former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine. Keith Smith is a senior associate with the CSIS Energy and National Security Program and a former U.S. ambassador to Lithuania. Celeste A. Wallander is a senior associate with the CSIS Russia and Eurasia Program and a visiting associate professor at Georgetown University. Download the Ukrainian Version
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