Kiev

A YEAR ago, young Ukrainians were risking their lives on Kiev's Independence Square to defend an agreement that would bring their country closer to the European Union (EU). That uprising ended a corrupt regime and brought to power - after a free and fair election - what appears to be Ukraine's most reform-minded government.

One might have expected the heroic commitment of Ukrainians to Europe's democratic ideals to trigger a rush of Western support for the country in its battle against Russian aggression and economic instability, but that has not been the case. Indeed, though the last EU leadership summit of 2014 brought the courageous decision to "stay the course" on Russian sanctions, it produced little movement on aid to Ukraine.