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The Russian question

Russia has clung to its Soviet sphere of influence with tenacity in the decades since the former USSR was disbanded. After Maidan protestors overthrew the Russian-approved President Viktor Yanukovych in February 2014, Russian has made no secret of trying to influence Ukraine -- and block Kiev from making closer ties with the European Union (EU) or the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

The annexation of Crimea in March, after citizens voted to join the Russian Federation, was followed by Russian support for separatists in the eastern Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk. The conflict has so far led to more than 4,000 deaths in eastern Ukraine and the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 over Ukraine in July.

Russia itself is hurting economically, following Western-imposed sanctions and declining values of the oil price and ruble, but has stuck to its support for the separatists.

Yet the Kiev government has remained staunch in its commitment to closer ties with Europe. As President Petro Poroshenko, a candy tycoon who came to power in May, said on Twitter Wednesday: "There is no alternative to European integration."

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