20 years of independence in Ukraine, Moldova and Belarus: Is it enough to build a democratic state?

Twenty years on from their declaration of independence, the countries in the EU’s eastern neighbourhood, Ukraine, Moldova and Belarus, have not only failed to become democratic states, their democratic progress has actually been reversed or stalled. This article provides an analysis of the political trends in the three countries, arguing that their rapprochement with the European Union coexists with certain Russian-style models of governance and societal moods. The author argues that while the region’s democratic transition is not certain in the short- to middle-term, European integration and an embracing of European values in Ukraine, Moldova and Belarus is highly likely in the longer-term perspective.