Perhaps, as I did, you wonder about the modern history of neighbors Ukraine and Russia, like:
- How did Ukraine become a sovereign country after the USSR fell?
- What agreements for the sovereignty of Ukraine were signed over the years?
- How did these agreements work out?
- Why can’t Ukraine and Russia just trust each other and sign a peace treaty?
I’ve tried to summarize all agreements on peace and sovereignty that Ukraine has been involved in with Russia since the fall of the USSR…
…and provide some answers in a ‘what can we learn from this’ section at the bottom of this page.
Fair warning:
- There have been a lot of treaties…
- They were all broken by Russia…
1991:
Agreement: Belovezha Agreement
Signed by: Russia, Ukraine and Belarus.
In short: States that the Soviet Union no longer exists.
Note: The subsequent handing over of government-owned stock to the people initiates share buy-backs by what would later become the russian league of Billionaire Oligarchs.
Agreement: Alma-Ata protocol
Signed by: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan.
In short: Most of the former Soviet republics confirm to no longer being part of the USSR and declare sovereignty. In Ukraine, elections were held to form the Republic of Ukraine.
Note: The areas with at least 84% of the votes for becoming Ukrainian. Also in southern areas as Crimea and Sevastopol, there was a clear majority for being Ukrainian.
1994:
Agreement: Budapest Memorandum
Signed by: Ukraine, Russia, United States. The United Kingdom, France, and China separately provided assurances.
In short: Russia, the United States, and Great Britain guarantee Ukraine’s borders and sovereignty. Ukraine gives its nuclear weapons to Russia. Also, respect for existing borders and mutual sovereignty.
Note: The US was pushing this agreement because it wants these weapons to be under the control of a reliable nation.
1997:
Agreement: The Friendship, Cooperation and Partnership Agreement
Signed by: Ukraine and Russia.
In short: Ukraine and Russia mutually recognize each other’s borders. Crimea is confirmed as Ukrainian. The parties undertake not to use force against each other.
Note: Due to the russian aggression in 2014, then Ukrainian president Poroshenko decided not to renew the treaty when it expired in March of 2019.
Agreement: Partition Treaty on the Black Sea Fleet
Signed by: Russia and Ukraine.
In short: Division of the former Soviet Black Sea Fleet. Russia will rent a base in Sevastopol until 2017. Ukraine maintains sovereignty over Crimea.
Note: When annexing Crimea in 2014, Russia unilaterally cancelled this treaty.
2003/2004:
Agreement: The border agreement
Signed by: Russian Federation and Ukraine.
In short: The land border between Ukraine and Russia is set and confirmed. Russia again recognizes Crimea and Donbas as Ukrainian.
Note: This treaty was signed by then-President Vladimir Putin.
2003:
Agreement: Sea of Azov agreement
Signed by: Russia and Ukraine.
In short: Joint use of the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait. Regulates sea traffic, military presence, and borders.
Note: Russia broke this agreement starting with the 2014 invasion of Crimea.
2010:
Agreement: Kharkiv Agreement
Signed by: Russia and Ukraine.
In short: Russia’s lease of Sevastopol is extended until 2042. Ukraine gets lower gas prices in return.
Note: Implicitly, Russia confirms to recognize Crimea and the naval city of Sevastopol as Ukrainian.
2014:
Agreement: Minsk I
Signed by: Russia, Ukraine, and the OSCE.
In short: A first attempt at a ceasefire after the war in Donbas started.
Note: Collapses quickly. This would become the trend…
2015:
Agreement: Minsk II
Signed by: Russia, Ukraine, and the OSCE.
In short: More comprehensive agreement on ceasefire, withdrawal of weapons, and political arrangements in parts of Donbas.
Note: Broken by both parties and never fully implemented
2022:
Action: Russia invades Ukraine, calling a Special Military Operation
In short: Russia invades Ukraine as a special military operation. Alegedly, the goal of this operation is to liberate Ukraine from neo nazi’s.
Note: This full-scale war continues to this day. Russia does not participate in any serious attempts to accomplish peace. In 2025, US President Trump negotiated a 28-point peace proposal that was later revealed to have been dictated by Russia.
What can we learn from this?
- Treaties between Russia and Ukraine are eagerly signed by Russia, but were
notnever respected by Russia. - Russia likes to play the public to motivate hostilities against foreign nations. (quite like post-war US intervening in other ‘communist’ countries. And now again under Trump, threatening to invade Canada, Mexico, Greenland, and most recently Venezuela.
- With Russia claiming that Ukraine is not seriously interested in peace talks, the post-Soviet era, and particularly the time Putin has run the company, clearly shows Russia to be breaking any treaty ever signed without negotiating whatever Russia felt should be adjusted. Instead, invasions and other hostilities culminated in full-blown war.
- In the end, Russia and Putin are not to be trusted.
As I stated earlier on this page:
You see the trend now?
Notably, Russia and Putin do not believe in trust; they believe in threatening opponents. A threat delivered by NATO or an EU army stationed in Ukraine is more likely to lead to lasting peace than yet another peace agreement with Russia.
More interesting reading about this:
For now:
Slava Ukraini!
Слава Україні!
Paul
Sweden
2025-12