Ethnic Policy of the Ukrainian State in the Context of its Pro-European Direction

Abstract

After Ukraine gained independence, the ethnic policy of this state has contributed to the transformation of the concept of the Ukrainian nation from ethnic into civic one. For this purpose, a package of legal acts modelled on international law has been adopted. The management of ethnic policy in Ukraine has saved the public from high levels of xenophobia and ethnic conflict. At the same time, the process of national integration is slowing down because some ethnic minorities prefer their own ethnic identity to the national civic one.