A Normative Power Yes or No? The European Union, Ukraine, and the Transfer of Democracy

The apparent gap between the professed goals of the EU-Ukraine relationship and the actual results on the ground casts doubt on Brussels’ ability to transfer democracy. This chapter argues that the normative power of the EU vis-à-vis Ukraine is limited due to a combination of the following factors: the difficulties the EU has when it comes to translating policy to practice; the intricacies of Ukrainian domestic politics; and the role of the Russian Federation – both directly and indirectly