Product Description Ukraine played a key role in the dissolution of the former USSR, and its continued independence will have a decisive impact upon the transformation of Russia itself into either a new empire or Western democracy. The economic crisis and mismanagement that engulfed Ukraine during 1993 through 1994 led many in the West and among Ukraine's neighbors to question the country's long-term viability as an independent state. In 1995 Ukraine has entered a new era reflecting its importance as a linchpin of regional security and stability in Europe. This study discusses Ukrainian security policies and their implications for Western policy. It makes a compelling case for greater Western aid and political support for Ukrainian independence and territorial integrity. About the Author TARAS KUZIO is a research fellow at the Center for Russian and East European Studies, University of Birmingham, England, and an honorary research fellow at the School of Slavonic and East European Studies, University of London. He is the editor ofUkraine Business Review and joint editor ofEast European Monitor. Kuzio has also served as research associate at the International Institute for Strategic Studies and has written extensively on former soviet nationality problems and contemporary Ukrainian affairs.