This paper examines Ukraine's path to joining the Council of Europe (CoE) in 1995 and its commitment to the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). The analysis traces strategic discussions within the Ukrainian government and debates among parliamentary and political elites during this pivotal post-Soviet transition period, revealing the competing viewpoints and objectives that shaped Ukraine's European integration. By examining media coverage and press narratives, the chapter explores how Ukraine's CoE accession was understood and received by Ukrainian society, illuminating the political, societal, and public dimensions of this critical step toward European institutional membership.
