Implementing the Rule of Law in Ukraine: Pathway to the European Union

Abstract

Since 2014, Ukraine's sociopolitical and economic situation has rapidly changed. The 2022 start of the conflict with Russia, the Euro-Maidan crisis, the succession of administrations, the loss of Crimea, and its economic crises have created a vast and complex set of challenges for Ukraine's government and people. The preservation of Ukraine's legal system and judicial reforms to combat corruption are among the most crucial issues, particularly in light of the Copenhagen criteria for European aspirations. Politicians have abused the judiciary by passing laws that benefit the nation's elites to strengthen their positions and acquire control over them. Still, they have not been given the country's general populace any real opportunity. The Ukrainian courts, regrettably, have received a corrupt rating. The 2024 edition of the World Justice Report Index places Ukraine 88th out of countries that uphold the rule of law. The nation's system of government is closely linked to its acceptance of the rule of law. The path to the EU may be challenging but not unfeasible.