ConventionalwisdomdictatesthatUkraine’spoliticalcrisescanbetracedtothelinguisticdifferencesanddividedpoliticalloyaltiesthathavelongfracturedthecountry.However,thistheoryobscuresthetruesignificanceofUkraine’srecentcivicrevolutionandtheconflict’scrucialinternationaldimension.The2013-14UkrainianrevolutionpresentedauthoritarianpowersinRussiawithbothademocraticandageopoliticalchallenge.Inreality,politicalconflictinUkraineisreflectiveofglobaldiscord,stemmingfromdifferingviewsonstatepower,civilsociety,anddemocracy.Ukraine’ssuddenprominenceinAmericanpoliticshascompoundedanalready-widespreadmisunderstandingofwhatisactuallyhappeninginthenation.IntheAmericanmedia,Ukrainehascometosignifyaninherentlycorruptplace,ratherthanarealcountrystrugglinginthefaceofgreatchallenges.Ukraine:WhatEveryoneNeedstoKnow(R)isanupdatededitionofSerhyYekelchyk’s2015publication,TheConflictinUkraine.ItaddressesUkraine’srelationswiththeWest,particularlytheUnitedStates,fromtheperspectiveofUkrainians.ThebookexplainshowindependentUkrainefellvictimtocronycapitalism,howitspeoplerebelledtwiceinthelasttwodecadesinthenameofdemocracyandagainstcorruption,andwhyRussiareactedsoaggressivelytothestrivingsofUkrainians.Additionally,itlooksatwhatweknowaboutallegedUkrainianinterferenceinthe2016USpresidentialelection,thefactorsbehindthestunningelectoralvictoryofthepoliticalnoviceVolodymyrZelensky,andthewaysinwhichtheeventsleadingtotheimpeachmentproceedingsagainstPresidentDonaldTrumphavechangedtheRussia-Ukraine-USrelationship.ThisvolumeisessentialreadingforanyonewhowantstounderstandtheforcesthathaveshapedcontemporarypoliticsinthisincreasinglyimportantpartofEurope,aswellastheinternationalbackgroundoftheimpeachmentproceedingsintheUS.
