threat to its own economy sparking the Russo- Ukrainian war.


Moscow illegally annexed Crimea in 2014 and supported pro-Russian separatists in east Ukraine and a war began centred around the status of two Ukrainian regions - Crimea and Donbass.


Pro-Russian Ukrainian president at the time, Viktor Yanukovych, was ousted from office and there was unrest throughout the region as Russia sent in troops to occupy the Crimean peninsula. Te military conflict has seen over 13,000 people killed. Today, seven per cent of Ukraine’s territory is still under occupation.


President Yanukovych was replaced by Petro Poroshenko who served in 2019 until current


President Volodymyr Zelensky took office. Te former TV personality’s anti-corruption campaign won him huge support and a landslide victory.


Meanwhile, the economy in Ukraine remains uncertain. It is predicted that the country will see a four to 4.5 per cent growth in 2021 mainly due to a predicted rebound after lockdowns, but there is little investment anticipated.


Since 2017, Ukraine’s economy had been relatively strong following several years of decline thanks to the turmoil in the country and Russia imposing stricter border and customs controls. In 2013, the country saw zero growth in GDP, whilst 2014 saw a decline of 6.8 per cent and 12 per cent in 2015. However, by 2019 growth had increased to around 3.2 per cent


thanks to a bumper agricultural harvest and rise in domestic consumption. Despite the fact that Ukraine harbours debts, mostly to cover defence spending, things were looking positive with a predicted GDP growth of five per cent for the year 2020.


Ten of course Covid-19 arrived and put the kibosh on that.


Instead, the GDP in Ukraine shrank by five per cent last year mostly because of the economic slump in the second quarter. Te Covid-19 outbreak also coincided with Zelensky’s government re-shuffle where he sacked his reformist government and then removed all remaining reformers from senior positions. His new Cabinet of Ministers is now described as ‘random’ and ‘lacking in certainty’.


WIRE / PULSE / INSIGHT / REPORTS P161


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