Ukraine's post-Soviet struggle to forge its own path essentially turned the country into a geopolitical pawn that the West repeatedly has used to destabilize Russia and target the Kremlin – all while nonnuclear, non-NATO Ukraine lacked a suitable defense to blunt Moscow's inevitable reprisals, experts say.
The U.S. and European allies have a long history of using the powerful former Soviet republic, which geographically serves as a buffer between Russia and the European Union, as a tool to challenge Russian President Vladimir Putin's autocratic rule.
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Marisa Herman ✉
Marisa Herman, a Newsmax senior reporter, focuses on major and investigative stories. A University of Florida graduate, she has more than a decade of experience as a reporter for newspapers, magazines, and websites.