Ukraine, as an independent „buffer” state, allied with Poland, was to play a principalpart in Józef Piłsudski’s grand political scheme (not quite accurately dubbed a „federalist programme”) which envisaged the breaking down the Russian empire into the series of self-governing national territories. The policy conducted by Chief of State led to the conclusion of the Polish-Ukrainian treaty in April 1920. It was an unequal and asymmetric agreement, but given the circumstances benefited both sides. The Polish-Ukrainian alliance provided the unique opportunity to implement Piłsudski’s far-reaching geopolitical project. Eventually, however, it ended in failure. After 1921, the Ukrainian question became for Piłsudski primarily an internal policy issue.
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