On December 25, Mikhail Gorbachev delivered a televised announcement to the Soviet people, declaring his resignation as President of the Soviet Union. This statement signified not only his personal exit from power but also the impending dissolution of the Soviet Union itself, which would officially occur the following day. Gorbachev's leadership, characterized by policies of glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring), fundamentally altered the political landscape of the Soviet Union but ultimately could not stem the tide of independence movements that swept through various republics, including Ukraine.

Earlier on the same day, Ukraine’s Independence Referendum had concluded with over 90% of voters approving the declaration of independence from the Soviet Union. This landslide vote underscored the desire among many Soviet republics to assert their sovereignty, and it was a significant indicator of the waning influence of the central Soviet government. The results of the referendum were pivotal, illustrating the public's overwhelming support for a distinct national identity separate from the Soviet framework.

As Gorbachev's presidency concluded, the political vacuum initiated a rapid transformation within the region. On December 26, the Soviet Union was officially dissolved, marking a significant shift in global geopolitics and the end of the Cold War era. This transition not only transformed the political landscape of Eastern Europe but also instigated significant socio-economic changes in newly independent states, including Ukraine. These historical events set the stage for the subsequent establishment of new nations and altered international relations in significant ways.