KIEV, Ukraine, Feb. 4 (UPI) -- Ukraine's former president blamed the country's current leaders for the strained relationship between Ukraine and traditional ally Russia.
Relations between Ukraine and Russia have soured since the 2004 Orange Revolution following the breakup of the former Soviet Union. Among other things, the country sought to join NATO and the European Union, and sided with Georgia in 2008 in its confrontation with Russia over several breakaway regions.