In the depths of winter, I travelled from Tallinn, Estonia, across the Russian border to the majestic city of St Petersburg, before making my way south into Moscow and then on to Kyiv via sleeper trains.

These three countries are all at different stages of evolution in their complex relationships and history; Estonia looking westward, towards the EU and NATO - much to Russia's ire. Russia, the former Motherland, now desperate to rekindle its empire and the glory-days of the USSR no matter what and despite its neighbours' own wishes.

And finally Ukraine, locked in a bitter war with Russia over its position in the world - a population trying to modernise, evolve and move on from their Soviet past but unable to escape the grip of its former master.