Although disputes prior to the Ukrainian presidential election, 2004 were present including the speculations regarding accidental shooting down of a Russian airliner by the Ukrainian military and the controversy with the Tuzla Island, relations with Russia under the latter years of Leonid Kuchma improved.
Meskipun terdapat masalah sebelum pemilihan presiden Ukraina tahun 2004, termasuk spekulasi mengenai penembakan pesawat penumpang Rusia oleh militer Ukraina dan kontroversi dengan Pulau Tuzla, hubungan Ukraina dengan Rusia pada pemerintahan Leonid Kuchma membaik.