EU Moves to Help Ukraine

For John, BLUF:  As Realists, do we not recognize the value of Democracy spreading, rather than retreating?  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Reporter Adrian Croft, via Reuters, gives us "European Union signs landmark association agreement with Ukraine".  Here is the lede and additional defining paragraphs:

The European Union and Ukraine signed the core elements of a political association agreement on Friday, committing to the same deal former president Viktor Yanukovich rejected last November, a move which led to his overthrow.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk, EU leaders Herman Van Rompuy and Jose Manuel Barroso, and the leaders of the bloc's 28 nations signed the core chapters of the Association Agreement on the sidelines of an EU summit in Brussels.

The deal commits Ukraine and the EU to closer political and economic cooperation, although more substantial parts of the agreement concerning free trade will only be signed after Ukraine has held new presidential elections in May.

Of course, there is this probationary period and Ukraine can back out at any time.

Van Rompuy, the European Council president, said the agreement would bring Ukraine and its 46 million people closer to the heart of Europe and a "European way of life".

"(This) recognizes the aspirations of the people of Ukraine to live in a country governed by values, by democracy and the rule of law, where all citizens have a stake in national prosperity," he said.

Do we much care about "democracy and the rule of law" for others any more?  Do we believe democracy can thrive in just one nation?  What do we owe The European Union, and Ukraine.

Regards  —  Cliff