In 2014, at the time of the Maiden, it was the EU who presented Ukraine with the binary choice of 'Europe' or Russia with the EU's 'Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Treaty' - the implementation of which would have bankrupt the country. This insistence of Brussels and the West generally that this is a binary choice is a cause of much of the present Ukrainian disaster. It was the ever-pragmatic Putin who said to Brussels "look, Ukraine would benefit from good relations with us and you, so what's the problem?'

I did a bit of research at the time into Ukraine's relationship with the EU and the talks about the possibility of joining the bloc and found several documents where various Ukrainian ministers in different governments years before the Maiden said while they wanted a 'European' future, the costs were simply unaffordable
Does anyone think the EU really doesn't know this as it keeps dangling the prospect of joining before Ukraine?

As an aside, John, this is why many of us supported Brexit - it has nothing to do with a supposed dislike of Europe and everything to do with observing that many of Brussels' policies are harmful to the countries they supposedly serve.