The perception of "two Ukraines" emerged in the presidential election of 2004 partly due to the charge that Yushchenko would eliminate the constitutional guarantee that ethnic Russians could use Russian as their primary language of instruction in schools. But during his campaign Yushchenko assured Russophones that he would uphold such rights.
"两个乌克兰"的说法来自2004年的总统大选，部分原因是尤先科打算取消俄族人使用俄语进行学校教育的宪法保证。但竞选时尤先科又向俄族人承诺他会保留上述权利。