Ukraine (closed; covers till August 2014)

[Ulenspiegel]

A couple promises were broken, but this is incorrect. An association treaty (which wasn't even ratified) isn't the same as integration and IIRC the promises were actually about NATO expansion and Western troops in the former Warsaw Pact.

The only permanent Western troops presences in the former Warsaw pact that I know of are
* East Germany, which within limits was part of the agreement.
* Those two much criticized U.S. BMD installations
* the tiny air policing fighter flight NATO countries provide for the Baltic countries
* embassy-, liaison-, officer exchange- and intel-related personnel

Sorry, here I disagree. An EU association of an European country always include the (slim) danger, that this country becomes a second Poland and will apply for full membership in around 15 years. And please do not tell me, we would and could object then. EU association is for me a red line, as it has hidden military implications. :-)

As Germans we should admit that one part of the deal with Gorbachow was the preservation of a glacis, something that was eroded in the last year. We can only discuss the motivations to do so, not the fact.

The correct sequence IMHO would have been to offer Russia NATO membership, then offer EU association to Ukraine.