How did Ukraine leave Russia?

In 1922, Ukraine and Russia were two of the founding members of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and were the signatories of the treaty that terminated the union in December 1991. The end of the Russian Empire also ended the band on the Ukrainian language.

Ukraine became independent again when the Soviets dissolved in 1991. This started a period of transition to a market economy, in which Ukraine suffered an eight-year recession.

Ukraine was caught up in the worldwide economic crisis from 2008 to spring 2009, then levelled off. The prolonged crisis began on 21 November 2013, when then-President, Viktor Yanukovych suspended preparation for the implementation of an association agreement with the European Union.