SHEN Lihua

(№.3,2014)

Abstract: The future relationship between Russia and Ukraine will be affected and restricted by various factors. From Russia's point of view, to deep the cooperation with Ukraine and other CIS countries is its long-term strategic goal. Although, this goal suffered a setback after Crimea joined into Russian territory, Russia will spare no effort to maintain influence on Ukraine. For Ukraine, join into the European Union (the big family of European civilization) as soon as possible, is the principal goal of Ukraine's foreign policy in the future. Considering the factors like the negative effects of the Ukraine’s westernization policy to Russia and Ukraine’s energy depends on Russia seriously, Ukraine will be the buffer zone between Russia and the European Union over a period of time. The Ukraine geopolitical game around the European Union, NATO and Russia will exist for a long time. Ukraine's domestic east-west differences are unbridgeable. The interaction of variety factors and political forces determine that the future relationship between Russia and Ukraine will be full of variables.

Keywords: Russia; Ukraine; the United States; the European Union