The EU's Poor Performing in the Ukrainian Crisis

This brief assesses the EU’s response to the turmoil in Eastern Ukraine triggered by Brussels’ decision to offer the country an Association  Agreement and the ensuing refusal to subscribe to it by former President Viktor Yanukovich. The EU’s reaction to the unexpected wave of protests – which ultimately  led  to a regime  change – is to be evaluated in the light of the EU’s overall strategy towards the Eastern European neighbourhood .  More  generally,  the EU’s performance  in the Ukrainian C risis  calls  for a  reflection  on  its  transf ormative power, on its ‘visionary’ capacity  and finally on Russia’ s capacity to wield power.