I suggest you stop being rude and offensive (which reveals so much about you), and start your own reading of Ukrainian history (and perhaps Russian history) - because there is so much wrong with your reply.Originally Posted by Moses
Read, e.g., "Ukraine Votes To Abandon Neutrality, Set Sights On NATO," December 23, 2014 13:26 GMT (https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-parl.../26758725.html). The report includes the reason why Ukraine's parliament so voted in 2014: "The legislative amendment submitted by President Petro Poroshenko last week was approved with 303 "yes" votes in the 450-seat Verkhovna Rada on December 23.
A note explaining the changes in Ukraine's law on domestic and foreign policy said that the "non-bloc" status codified under then-President Viktor Yanukovych in 2010 had left Ukraine vulnerable to "external aggression and pressure."
It said that "the Russian Federation's aggression against Ukraine, its illegal annexation of Crimea...its military intervention in eastern regions" and other forms of pressure created the need for "more effective guarantees of independence, sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity."
The pro-Western leaders who came to power after Yanukovych fled in the face of protests last February have spoken for months of plans to renounce the neutral status, which prevented Ukraine from seeking NATO membership.
Kyiv and NATO accuse Russia of providing direct military support to pro-Russian separatists who have seized parts of two provinces in eastern Ukraine and fought government forces in a conflict that has killed more than 4,700 people since April."
The Ukrainian parliament adopted an amendment to its Constitution on Feburary 7, 2019 (not 2021). The amendment did/does not specify any particular dates or efforts in this regard. However, it clearly states that it is no longer possible to not move the country closer to the West. Consequently, any attempts by politicians to change the course of Ukraine towards Russia will be treated as a violation of the Constitution of Ukraine. It will make any attempts to reorient the country back toward Russia impossible.
In addition, this amendment removes a clause in the Constitution that allowed the Russian military to have access to Ukrainian military bases. Specifically, the Russian Navy will no longer have access to any Ukrainian Navy ports, including the ports in Crimea where the Russians now have vessels stationed. See, e.g., "Ukrainian Parliament Amends Constitution to Set Path for EU and NATO Membership" (https://uatv.ua/en/ukrainian-parliam...to-membership/).
In other words, until Russia illegally annexed Crimea in 2014, Ukraine was, or a least regarded itself as, neutral with a non-bloc status that prevented it seeking NATO membership, which prompted the first amendment. The continued annexation and attitude of Russia prompted the second amendment.
On 18 February 2022, a German blog (https://verfassungsblog.de/would-ukr...-its-nato-bid/) published an article entitled "Would Ukraine Breach its own Constitution if it Dropped its NATO Bid?" The article concluded: "As of now, Ukraine is bound by its Constitution and stepping back from its NATO aspirations does not seem to be a real prospect. That said Ukraine may be coming close to a fork in the road where it may be forced (by Russia or even its Western allies) to choose between fully upholding the Constitution (as amended in 2019) and protecting the territorial integrity of the State. One can only hope that the diplomatic efforts of the last few days will prove to be successful thus overcoming what would be a lose-lose situation for Ukraine and its people."
Shortly after that, of course, Russia began its euphemistically termed "special military operation."
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