After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Ukraine, a country of 50 million people, was seen as a crucial bulwark against any resurgence of Russian territorial expansionism. That honeymoon period was short-lived. In November, following the apparent sale of "Kolchuga" radar systems to Iraq and other scandals, President Leonid Kuchma was ostracized at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's Prague Summit. A month later, the Bush administration accused Ukraine of being a "primary money-laundering concern" and--for the first time--moved to impose sanctions under the provisions of the anti-terrorist USA Patriot Act. According to James Sherr, however, Ukraine is far from being a disaster; recent troubles could give the West leverage to force reforms. Is this the moment to draw Ukraine closer to Europe?
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