title: Russia-Ukraine Relations After the Fall of the Soviet Union: From Minor Disputes to the Battlefield
abstract: After the end of the Cold War and the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, Ukraine and Russia established good cooperation in various aspects despite some shifts in domestic issues. Ukraine adopted a policy of neutrality in its administration because it needed cooperation from various parties, including Russia and the West. However, everything changed when Ukraine expressed its desire to join NATO in 2008. This desire was welcomed by NATO but opposed by Russia, leading to an ongoing conflict
journal: Journal of Strategic Studies & International Affairs