You're reading: Los Angeles Times: Why Ukraine is staying in Russia’s orbit instead of turning West

The European Union economy is six times bigger than that of the post-Soviet Commonwealth of Independent States, and the average EU citizen earns more than three times as much as a counterpart in the eastern alliance.

Despite predicted short-term difficulties competing with the likes of Germany and Britain, more than 60% of Ukrainians wanted to seal a trade and association agreement with the Western European bloc.

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