Ukraine (closed; covers till August 2014)

[JMA]

Ukraine has no other option than to try to 'repair' relations with and coexist with Russia as the West failed them at a critical moment in their history even if it is just going through the motions.

Ukrainians will know that their only hope of independence and freedom from Russian domination will be to obtain nuclear weapons.

Ukraine’s Next President Vows to Restore Order and Mend Russia Ties

The turnout was indeed quite high, especially considering the difficulties to vote in annexed Crimea and the two oblasts where thousends of insurgents roam. So roughly 1 in 8 could not participate in the national elections. The vote itself was surprisingly clear, giving Poroshenko a decisive wing. Not much chances for Moscow in the medium term to get a friendly Ukraine into it's orbit.

There are mostly hard choices ahead of the elected president, which will be sworn in later.