Ukraine became an independent country with the end of the Soviet Union in 1991. Ukraine’s quest for independence began in August 1991 when the Ukrainian Parliament set out the Act of Declaration of Independence. On December 1, a referendum on the Act was held in Ukraine and 84 per cent of voters came to submit their votes. Over 92 per cent of the people voted to leave the Soviet Union. After this, an election was also held and Leonid Kravchuk was chosen as the country’s president.
Many important developments took place in Ukraine during this time, which include the dissolution of the Communist Party and development of a new infrastructure for a separate military. The country also managed to tackle the political pressure from Moscow to rethink its decision towards independence and become a part of a restructured Soviet Union. Ukraine stuck to its decision, and a week after the independence referendum, the leaders of Ukraine, Russia and Belarus came together to establish the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).
The Soviet Union was formally dissolved on 26 December 1991. The presidents of Ukraine, Belarus and Russia (the founding members of the U.S.S.R) met in Bia?owie?a Forest to formally dissolve the Union according to the Soviet Constitution. With this, Ukraine’s independence was formally recognized by the international community.
Although Ukraine was part of the CIS, it formally ended all participation in the CIS after 2014 when Russia annexed Crimea.
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