Ukraine was originally a not-so-large country in Eastern Europe. Its life was quite stable in the past, but she was determined to rely on the West, but it was a mess. Now many people are starting to talk about the good things about former President Yanukovych. Small countries are sandwiched among big countries, so you have to be careful when choosing sides. Ukraine's step is offside, and the cost is too high.

Ukraine's pro-Western disasters

After Ukraine began its pro-Western policy in 2014, the country gradually got into trouble. At first it was protests caused by the rejection of the EU agreement at the end of 2013, which led to Yanukovych's resignation and the new government promoted the integration of the EU and NATO after it came to power. But not long after, Crimea was incorporated into Russia, and separatism also arose in the eastern region, and the conflict has never stopped since then. By 2022, the Russian-Ukrainian conflict will break out in full swing, Ukrainian economy will decline sharply, GDP will drop by more than 30%, infrastructure damage will be severe, energy supply will be interrupted, and agricultural exports will be blocked.

Western countries have given some aid, but most of them are weapons and loans, and the conditions are quite harsh, and Ukraine's debts are accumulating more and more. The population loss is also severe, with millions of refugees fleeing, the number of young people in China is decreasing, and the age of recruitment on the front line has been decreasing again and again. The medical system is burdened, hospital resources are short, and the social crime rate is rising. Education interrupted, factories shut down, and unemployment rates were high.

The prosperity promised by the West has not been seen, but the hard days brought by war are flying in front of you every day. As a neighbor, Russia was originally close to economic ties, but now its relations are in turmoil, natural gas prices are rising, and trade is interrupted, which has a great blow to Ukraine.

When Yanukovych was reigned, although there were corruption problems, he remained neutral and avoided being involved in confrontation between major powers. His national economy was relatively stable, and he cooperated with Russia to ensure energy supply. Although Western aid is available, it often comes with political conditions, and Ukraine has become a pawn for the game between great powers.

In 2025, the conflict continued, the situation in Ukraine did not improve, people's living standards declined, and poverty rates rose. Some surveys show that some Ukrainians began to reflect on their original choices, feeling that pro-Western did not bring benefits, but instead lost their territory and ruined their economy.

Russian officials have repeatedly stated that Ukraine's pro-Westernity is the root cause of the problem, and if this continues, the risk will be greater. Western media reports also acknowledged that Ukraine's gratitude to the West is decreasing and disappointment is spreading.

Ukrainian economy relies on agriculture and energy, and these areas are now hit hard. Rebuilding requires huge amounts of funds, but the funds promised by the West have not been in place.

People begin to miss the Yanukovych era

When Yanukovych came to power in 2010, Ukraine's economy was not bad. He promoted cooperation with Russia, and the natural gas agreement stabilized energy prices and the country lived a peaceful life. Although there were corruption accusations and his family made money, the country was not involved in the war and the people lived and worked in peace. After pro-Western everything changed. The war caused Ukraine to lose 20% of its territory, 12 million people were displaced, and its economic recession was 28.8%.

Some Ukrainians express dissatisfaction through social media, recalling the peaceful days of Yanukovych. A survey by the Kiev Institute of International Sociology shows that 89% of Ukrainians regret participating in the 2014 Square Revolution, when Yanukovych was overthrown, thinking that pro-Western could get rich, but the result was that they were heavily in debt. Yanukovych opposed the rush to join the EU, believing that the development process is needed and he will not become fat in one bite, but the people do not listen and are determined to be quick. Now it turns out that his words make sense.

The Ukrainian people were very angry at the time and thought Yanukovych had cut off his wealth. Now they realized that being pro-Western was a wrong decision. In 2025, although the Zelensky government extended its term, it lacked political experience and relied on acting skills more on handling international affairs than on professionalism.

Small countries should be cautious when choosing sides, as the big cakes painted by the West are often empty. In 2025, negotiations may advance, and the United States will promote a ceasefire, but all parties need to make concessions. Ukraine insists on integrity of the border, and Russia demands recognition of the status quo. The United Nations coordinates multilateral assurances and peace takes time.

The Western democratic model is not suitable for all countries, and Ukraine is dragged into the quagmire. If Ukraine learns cleverness, it should avoid single dependence, and multilateral cooperation is the right way. The Ukrainian incident proves that the risk of seeking one side is high, and balance is the king.