The Borjomi declaration of Ukraine and Georgia in August 2005, and the first summit of the widely-announced Community for Democratic Choice (CDC) scheduled for December 1-2, 2005, have set an ambitious agenda for Ukraine as a potentially influential regional power.
The Ukrainian experience has revitalized hope for the further spreading and maturing of democracy, rule of law, and other Western values in the institutionally fragile and fragmented eastern European margin. President Viktor Yushchenko proclaimed that Ukraine wishes to be a regional leader after his inauguration in early 2005. However, the content and instruments of this eventual leadership still remain unclear. Does Ukraine want to follow a Russian model of leadership by pursuing egoistic national interests? Or is it seeking a European model of leadership based upon common values and the responsibility of larger states before smaller ones? […]
