title: Introduction
abstract: The conflict in eastern Ukraine is approaching its third year with little sign of a negotiated resolution. Crimea has been absorbed into the Russian Federation and will celebrate the second anniversary of its 'integration' in March 2016. The ongoing nature of the conflict contrasts with a lack of academic exploration of the issues surrounding it. To date, most analyses have focused on the geopolitical implications of the Ukrainian crisis, such as the impact on NATO-Russia relations, and foreign 