EU-Russia – from partners to adversaries One year ago the EU’s Ukraine Association Agreement – aimed at bringing the former Soviet republic into the EU’s sphere of influence – collapsed, leading to a standoff with Russia and war in eastern Ukraine ----------------------------------------------------- 2010 2011 2012 2013 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan 2014 Feb Mar Apr May Jun Feb 25, 2010: Viktor Yanukovych (above left) is sworn in as president of Ukraine. His main rival, Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, is arrested and eventually jailed. EU begins overtures for closer political and economic ties Jul 27: Putin makes surprise visit to Kiev to discourage Yanukovych from signing EU agreement Nov, Russia’s power play: Putin promises Yanukovych subsidies, including discounted prices for oil and natural gas worth around $12 billion, or a trade war that will destroy Ukraine’s fragile economy Nov-Dec: Anti-Russian protests soar as some 800,000 people rally in Kiev. Yanukovych and Putin sign $15bn deal Mar 2014: Putin annexes Crimean Peninsula Apr: Conflict erupts in eastern Ukraine. Russia denies delivering weapons to pro-Russian separatists Spring 2012: EU approves Ukraine Association Agreement. German Chancellor Angela Merkel pressures Yanukovych to free Tymoshenko Feb 2013: Yanukovych wavers over attraction of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s Customs Union. European Commission President José Manuel Barroso (above) tells Kiev to choose either Brussels or Moscow Jul 29, “Chocolate Wars”: Moscow bans confectionery imports from Ukraine – first Russian trade sanctions Nov 28, Eastern Partnership Summit, Vilnius, Lithuania: After four years of negotiations between Brussels and Kiev, Yanukovych refuses to sign Ukraine Association Agreement Feb 2014: Yanukovych forced from power – flees to Russia Jun 27: EU-Ukraine Association Agreement is finally signed in Brussels by new Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko ---------------------------------------------------- Sources: BBC, Spiegel Online Pictures: Associated Press, Getty Images words 313