Making a Difference Through Similarities: A Comparative Analysis of Social Trust Formation Between Ukraine and Russia

This study uses a comparative perspective to analyse social trust in Ukraine and Russia. Drawing upon the assumption that the two countries share many similarities, I focus on exploring the degree to which their trust formation processes resemble each other. I demonstrate that the modes of trusting behaviour differ significantly between both societies. I argue that these differences can be explained by the recent gap between Ukraine and Russia in their political and social systems. Special attention is paid to the impact of the war in the east of Ukraine on intensifying the divergence in how trust is built and preserved among individuals. The findings are used to question the pervasive effects of cultural similarities with Russia on the Ukrainian population's behavioural values and preferences.