Ukraine In Europe?

The struggle over the future of the Ukraine continues. The issue that originally caused the problems in Ukraine was when the ousted leader Viktor Yanukovych decided to reject a EU trade treaty in favor of forming closer ties with Russia. This was highly protested and the interim president Oleksandr Turchynov is now pushing in the opposite direction in a bid to try and form closer ties between the Ukraine and other European countries.

But could this move to the EU benefit the people of Ukraine? The Economic history of the two regions suggests that the protesters and not Yanukovych were right. This however depends on whether the people of the Ukraine would rather be poor members of a rich region in Europe. Or if they would rather,have a mid-level status in a poorer region with Russia and central Asia. In 1989 GDP per Capita for the Ukraine was $8629 this however has dropped drastically and today the GDP per Capita sits at $6394. Still 25% less than it was a quarter of a century ago. This leaves the Ukraine in the middle of the pack of former soviet countries in terms of GDP per Capita.

Four of the neighboring countries of the Ukraine; Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania are all member of the European union and together have an average GDP per Capita of $13000 which is double that of the Ukraine's. The decision to split from Russia may not actually be too wise. The reason for this is because Russia GDP per Capita was recorded at $14000. So the decision to improve Ukraine's links with with Russia may be more beneficial as it could benefit by trading with the countries in central Asia as well as with Russia.