Turkey-Ukraine Relations: High Potential, Low Voltage

Habibe Özdal

dic 2011 · International Strategic Research Organization (USAK)

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 With its strategic location of the existing power lines and economic potential, Ukraine, as one of the most important countries of Eastern Europe, is one of the pilot countries with which Turkey aims to develop its relations in an ‘exemplary manner’. Besides, since Ankara and Kiev, share common values and priorities within the framework of preserving stability in the region, the Black Sea neighborhood adds another dimension to bilateral relations. 

With the High-Level Strategic Council founded in May 2010, it is aimed to improve political and economic relations. Moreover with visa exemption agreement, which is going to be signed in December 2011, will not only increase tourism activities but also expected to intensify the mutual inter-communal relations. Even though there is a consensus on accelerating existing relations in which high level visits frequently occur, the effective potential is not available yet due to differences in political agendas. This has both structural and cyclical reasons. 

In this study, before proceeding to the analysis of Turkey-Ukraine relations, Ukraine’s economic structure and political process is going to be evaluated in a comprehensive way, for better understanding of the Ukraine politics as well as bilateral relations.

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Habibe Özdal is working as a researcher at the International Strategic Research Organization (USAK), Russia & Black Sea Studies desk. Beside this, she writes comments in “USAK Stratejik Gundem” as well as for Journal of Turkish Weekly (JTW). Özdal is Managing Editor of USAK Yearbook of International Politics and Law. She speaks Turkish, Bulgarian, Russian and English.