Topic 15. The Place and Role of Ukraine in the Contemporary System of International Relations

Lecture

Ukraine's place in the system of international relations is determined by its geopolitical position,
its economic potential, and its foreign policy. Ukraine is the largest purely European state by territory (603,700
sq. km). By population it ranks fifth
in Europe, behind Germany, France, the United Kingdom, and Italy. It is located in the
central part of Europe. It borders Moldova, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia,
Poland, Belarus, and Russia. It has access to the Black Sea. From the USSR, Ukraine inherited
substantial economic potential, most of which, however, has already been lost due to various objective and
subjective causes – the severing of economic ties with the former Soviet
republics, conversion of industry, ill-considered reforms undertaken to please foreign advisers,
the dissipation of national assets through absurd privatization, and even
outright theft of it by high state officials, an unfavorable
investment climate, and so on.
Overall, its geographical location, the size of its territory, its population,
and Ukraine's potential economic capacity allow it to have the status of a large
European state with its own geostrategic orientation. Based on a current analysis of the
geopolitical situation, the balance of forces on the international stage, and its own objective
capabilities and geopolitical position, Ukraine has real grounds to establish itself in the
role of a regional political leader. To achieve this, together with its legitimate
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ambitions and interests, it needs to gradually strengthen its constructive influence on
the overall situation in the region to which it belongs. An important role here can be played by
Ukraine's active cooperation and leadership in the Baltic-Black Sea Partnership,
since, given its geopolitical position, Ukraine is a natural mediator between
the Baltic and Black Sea regions. Expanding ties between the South and the North of
Europe today meets the needs of the times so much that, should Ukraine remain passive, the role
of mediator could be taken up by another state. We could then witness
a classic, and unfortunately far from the first, illustration of missed opportunities.
North-South cooperation will help strengthen security in Europe
between the Baltic and Black Seas, which is extremely important for Ukraine both
politically and economically. Very important, from the standpoint of enhancing
Ukraine's international role, is the intensification of its participation in the work of the Organization of the Black Sea
Economic Cooperation.
At the subregional level, Ukraine remains a major regional state with
significant potential, which gives it a chance for an active policy in pursuing its own
interests. An active political stance for Ukraine within BSEC would give our country the opportunity
to pursue its interests, ensure the growth of its authority in the region and the world,
and turn it into an important regional player under the new geopolitical conditions that
are taking shape today. Back at the very beginning of BSEC's existence, Ukraine put forward the initiative
to include regional security issues within the organization's competence, in particular
the gradual demilitarization of the Black Sea basin and the settlement of conflicts, on the grounds
that developing and implementing confidence- and security-building measures in the naval
sphere helps enhance the security of both the Black Sea littoral states and the European
continent as a whole. That is, as we can see, the directions of Ukraine's international activity are very
diverse, but the main one among them, which above all determines its role
as a strategic state, may, in the words of the American general W. Kernan, become
the magnet that draws Eastern and Western Europe together. This refers, of course, to developing
cooperation within the Euro-Atlantic Partnership and, most importantly, to implementing
Ukraine's strategic course toward integration into the EU, on the one hand, while on the other, developing
relations of good-neighborly, equal partnership with the Russian Federation.
It follows, then, that Ukraine's very geopolitical position requires active
foreign-policy activity in various directions, and therefore, in our view, one of the main principles
of Ukrainian geostrategy should be the multi-vector nature of its international
policy.
Multi-vectorism should not be perceived as constant vacillation of foreign-policy
direction, but, in a broader sense, as the development and maintenance of relations with many participants
in international life. For Ukraine this is an entirely rational and pragmatic policy, which,
among other things, is also driven by the fact that Ukraine still lacks unity regarding
the definition of its foreign-policy priorities, and therefore emphasizing a single vector
merely introduces additional discord into Ukrainian society.
Intensifying cooperation at the regional level was also important because
for Ukraine it is one of the most realistic paths to Europe. On the one hand, close
cooperation with the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, and drawing on their
experience of European integration, is very valuable for our state. On the other hand, strengthening
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Ukraine's leading position in the region allows it to use cooperation with
European and Euro-Atlantic structures to establish itself in the role of a connecting
and synchronizing link between East and West. That is precisely why the regional dimension has always been and
remains one of the priorities of foreign policy. As can be seen
from the principles and directions of Ukraine's cooperation with NATO, the questions of the state's Atlantic
integration relate more to political or informational competence than to
military competence. Political speculation on the subject of readiness or lack thereof appears to be statements
aimed at the Eastern neighbor – Russia, and at satisfying its needs, or temporary
pre-election slogans for a certain segment of the Ukrainian electorate. Unfortunately,
such speculation destabilizes far more than it ensures stability and fruitful cooperation
between Ukraine and NATO. Growing chaos in Ukraine's political arena weakens the confidence
of Western investors in the security of their investments in the state, whereas Ukraine's NATO membership
could level and dispel their doubts and concerns. This may be, for 142
International Relations and Tourism: Present and Retrospective, one of many arguments
in favor of a shift toward a more positive attitude to NATO in Ukraine.
Naturally, as a founding member state of the United Nations, independent
Ukraine developed the traditions and built on the experience gained over the previous years of active
participation in the work of the UN and its specialized agencies. Confirmation of Ukraine's authority
in this international organization came, in particular, with the election of its representative in 1997 as Chair of the 52nd
session of the UN General Assembly. Moreover, in 2000 Ukraine was elected as a
non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for 2000-2001, and chaired that international
body. This attests to the growing role of our state as an active and influential
participant in contemporary global and regional processes, an improvement in its political image,
and a strengthening of its international standing.
The key criteria affecting our state's role in the contemporary
European community should be: an open civil society, an effective
functioning market economy, the rule of law, democratic civilian
control over the military sphere, consistency and predictability in foreign policy,
bringing national legislation into line with European standards, and
independence of the judiciary.
Thus, adherence to the principle of equal proximity and multi-vectorism,
consistent, mutually beneficial cooperation on matters of Ukraine's national interest,
and the strengthening of its international political status, while avoiding a sharp swing from
one strategic direction to another, should form the basis of Ukraine's strategy in the
existing geopolitical environment.
The Ukrainian people have a long history of relations with other states and peoples, dating from
the time of Kyivan Rus. It is known that Ukraine's foreign-policy activity during its
time within the USSR was substantially limited, since the union republics' rights to
conduct relations with foreign states had been transferred to the all-union
foreign-policy bodies. True, in the early years of the USSR's existence Ukraine had certain
opportunities to influence the shaping of the Union's foreign-policy course (through its
representatives in the union's legislative and executive bodies, and in diplomatic
missions in many countries), but from the 1930s on, once the Soviet Union had effectively become
a unitary state with over-centralized power, Ukraine, like the other union republics, was
deprived of them. Yet even under these conditions it took part in the founding of the UN and developed
economic and cultural relations with countries around the world.
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On August 24, 1991, an event took place that many generations of Ukrainians had dreamed of. On the map
of Europe there appeared an independent Ukraine, a state exceeding in territory any
European country except the Eurasian ones: Russia and Turkey. Ukraine's attainment of
statehood greatly increased the significance of international factors in its development.
In light of this, special attention should be paid to studying its experience in shaping
its foreign-policy strategy and pursuing a foreign policy adequate to its national interests
in today's dynamic and interconnected globalizing world.
Amid the sweeping transformations taking place in the world, the very category of "international
relations" is being filled with new content and is increasingly moving away from formulas that took shape during
the eras of the monarchical principle of state organization and that defined the scope only of
political and military-political events and phenomena, that is,
the foreign-policy activity of state institutions.
Besides politicians and diplomats, matters of an international character now
involve masses of people of various professions, classes, and faiths, not burdened at all
with state office. Their interests extend to trade, industrial production, art,
literature, education, science, and so on. What happens outside intergovernmental agreements and
protocols often has the most profound influence on the balance of international relations,
ultimately being transformed into imperatives for the politicians themselves. A picture of such consequences
is reflected in "people's diplomacy" — a journalistic term that has recently been entering
historiography as well, attesting to a phenomenon rooted in earlier eras.
Indeed, "non-traditional" diplomacy was resorted to even by medieval statesmen,
who sent monks, merchants, and writers abroad with their commissions, and appointed
as consuls, most often, the owners of trading firms and banks known in
international business circles. On behalf of Ukraine, which at various periods lost
its statehood, those who worked in civic
organizations, educational institutions, and the economy served as representatives abroad. It was precisely under these conditions that centers of
mediation emerged — societies, periodicals, where the exchange of intellectual achievements and
information was undertaken by figures of literature and science.
The purpose of such initiative work was clearly characterized in 1903, when, calling herself
a "disciple" of Drahomanov, Lesya Ukrainka wrote in a letter to Professor Angelo
De Gubernatis of the University of Rome, a populariser of the cultural values of different peoples well known in Europe:
"…to use every means at my disposal to promote the spread of the Ukrainian question in
foreign literatures, and the interpretation of the literature, life, and ideals of our people among
the other peoples of Europe" (letter of January 2, 1903, manuscripts department of the Central National
Library in Florence).
On the wave of social and professional ties from the second half of the 19th century, in
the universities and learned societies of Central and Western Europe, studies revived
of Ukrainian literature, language, history, and geography, which laid the foundations of the interdisciplinary
field of Ukrainian studies – in Germany, Italy, France, England, Austria, and other countries. By
these factors of interaction with peoples and their cultures were joined by mass emigration movements and
the formation of Ukrainian diasporas, and, within Ukraine itself, by the settlement of foreign colonists. Even older
history belongs to the connections marked by the appearance and spread on Ukrainian lands of various
religious currents.
Special attention is warranted by Ukraine's historical experience in creating and running its
own foreign-policy services, which ensured direct representation of its interests
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at the state level. Active engagement on the foreign-policy front, accompanied by
the conclusion of agreements and treaties, dynastic marriages, and the exchange of embassies,
was demonstrated by Kyivan Rus.
The diplomacy of the Ukrainian Cossack state under the leadership of Bohdan Khmelnytsky
was led and carried out by the organs of its military organization – the Council of the General Officer Staff,
the General Military Chancery, and the Hetman personally. The break that followed thereafter in
the formation of independent political relations ended in the early 20th century with the rise
of Ukrainian governments of various orientations, within which specialized
foreign-policy agencies emerged for the first time, and whose top priority was
the struggle for diplomatic recognition of their own governments and for organizing embassies, missions, and consulates. Ukraine's international
relations are a subject that more than one generation of domestic and
foreign researchers has worked on. Its historiography, however, is quite varied in its choice
and treatment of problems and topics. The filling of existing gaps and lacunae, thanks to the introduction into
scholarly circulation of previously untouched historical sources, a process that began in the 1990s,
is improving the state of research. On the agenda are questions of creating
synthesizing works devoted both to individual periods and to the history
of Ukraine's international relations as a whole.
As a result of the collapse of the USSR, Ukraine became an independent state and entered the
international arena as an independent subject of world politics. This was facilitated by
the adoption of the "Declaration of State Sovereignty of Ukraine" (July 16, 1990) and the "Act of
Declaration of Independence of Ukraine" (August 24, 1991), as well as its confirmation
by a nationwide referendum in December 1991.
Ukraine's attainment of state independence in 1991 greatly increased the significance
of international factors in its social-political, economic, and cultural development.
The resolution of a large number of problems facing the country moved into the sphere
of interstate relations – bilateral and multilateral. Diplomacy quite naturally took an
important place in carrying them out.
However, Ukraine's establishment as a subject of international relations is a complex,
contradictory, and lengthy process. The search for optimal conceptual approaches to
the country's foreign policy continues to this day. It should also be noted that Ukraine's foreign
policy, for almost the entire period of its independence, has remained hostage
to complex domestic political processes. It must, unfortunately, be acknowledged
that in the decades of Independence it has still not been possible to definitively determine its
foreign-policy priorities, or its place and role on the European and world stage. All this makes
the issue identified here all the more relevant. This article attempts to analyze the features of
the formation of Ukrainian foreign policy as a component of the system of international relations
under new conditions, and Ukraine's establishment in the contemporary globalizing world.
First of all, let us note that Ukraine's gaining of independence coincided in time with
the period marking the end of the "Cold War" and the beginning of the so-called new
international order under conditions of accelerating world globalization, as a result of which our country
found itself at the center of large-scale geopolitical shifts. It was precisely this that confronted it with
the challenge of effectively adapting to the objectively existing conditions of the newest system of
international relations, and this determined certain features of the shaping of the foreign-policy
course of independent Ukraine. From its very first days of independence, it had to, on the one
hand, develop a truly sovereign national state, while, on the other, simultaneously
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integrate into various integration associations that significantly influenced the development of the modern
system of international relations. Ukraine faced the task of understanding its place in
the newest system of the international order, and of developing and pursuing a foreign policy adequate
to the new geopolitical conditions.
An important step on this path was the adoption by the Verkhovna Rada of the Declaration
of State Sovereignty (July 16, 1990) and the approval of the Act of Declaration of Independence
of Ukraine (August 24, 1991), confirmed by the All-Ukrainian referendum of December 1,
1991, which opened up new prospects for a foreign policy as an independent state and
an equal member of the world community.
Ukraine pursues an open foreign policy based on the ten principles
of international relations drawn up by the participants of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe in
1975. It seeks to adapt to Europe on the basis of the Charter of Paris for a New Europe (1990),
and the "Challenge of Change" declaration adopted in July 1992 at the meeting of leaders of the participating states of the Helsinki process, in which Ukraine also took part. This foreign-policy
course is enshrined in Article 18 of the Constitution of Ukraine.
Ukraine's foreign policy has a systemic character. Its structural elements
are the interests, goals, tasks, methods, and directions of foreign-policy activity. The main goals,
priorities, and directions of foreign policy were formulated in the "Declaration of
State Sovereignty of Ukraine" and in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine's address "To the Parliaments and
Peoples of the World" (of December 5, 1991).
Ukraine's highest national interest is its development as an independent, powerful,
and influential state, capable of playing an important role in ensuring political and economic stability in Europe and in solving global problems.
The main goals of Ukraine's foreign policy are ensuring the country's sovereignty as a
subject of international law, guaranteeing national security, and creating favorable
conditions for the political, socio-economic, and spiritual development of Ukrainian
society and its citizens.
Achieving these goals presupposes solving a number of foreign-policy tasks:
ensuring the stability of Ukraine's international standing; preserving territorial
integrity and the inviolability of borders; establishing mutually beneficial cooperation with
all interested countries; protecting the rights and interests of Ukrainian citizens and legal
entities abroad; creating conditions to support contacts with the Ukrainian diaspora;
and a presence on the international stage as a reliable partner. It was also
proclaimed that the Ukrainian SSR would act as an equal participant in international
relations, actively contribute to strengthening universal peace and international security,
take direct part in the pan-European process and European structures,
recognize the priority of universal human values over class values, and the priority of
generally recognized norms of international law over norms of domestic
law.
Special importance was acquired by the process of forming the conceptual foundations of foreign
policy and its legal implementation. In this connection, let us mention just a few
documents of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine that helped strengthen Ukraine's international legal status
and its entry into the world community as a sovereign subject of international
coexistence, in particular: On the Legal Succession of Ukraine (September 12, 1991), To the Parliaments and
Peoples of the World (December 5, 1991), On the Effect of International Treaties on the Territory of Ukraine (December 10,
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1991), On the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations with the Successor States of the
Former USSR (December 11, 1991), On the Appeal of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to the North Atlantic Assembly (NAA) (June 3, 1992), On the Ratification of the Treaty between the USSR and
the USA on the Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms, signed in
Moscow on July 31, 1991, and of the Protocol signed on Ukraine's behalf in Lisbon on May 23,
1992 (November 18, 1993), On Ukraine's Accession to the Treaty on the
Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons of July 1, 1968 (November 16, 1994). These were
general documents attesting to Ukraine's entry onto the international stage as an
independent subject. Subsequently they were supplemented by other important decisions and
resolutions of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine; in particular, the main principles and directions of foreign
policy were set out in its resolution of July 3, 1993, "On the Main Directions of
Foreign Policy." Let us note that the outlined priorities of Ukraine's foreign-policy
activity on the international stage largely remain relevant even today, more than
two decades after independence was gained, and they define the current strategic
orientation of the foreign-policy course; Ukraine has declared the need for its participation in
worldwide international organizations. Ukraine faced the tasks of taking into account both
its nationwide interests on the international stage and the changes taking place in Europe
and the world following the collapse of the USSR and the socialist system. Ukraine tried to find its place
in the system of European relations, to appear on the political map of the world as an independent, sovereign
state, and an active participant in international relations.
Thus, the main tasks of Ukraine's foreign-policy activity are its
establishment and development as an independent democratic state, ensuring the stability of its
international standing, and developing bilateral relations with neighboring countries and
with states in the West, Asia, Africa, and Latin America. From the very outset of its foreign-policy
activity, Ukraine set itself ambitious tasks of expanding its participation in
European regional cooperation and its membership and cooperation in universal
world international organizations. In the context of these tasks and their implementation during the years of
Independence, according to the well-known Ukrainian diplomat and scholar A. Zlenko, Ukraine's foreign
policy can be divided into the following conditional stages: the first – 1990-1991 –
the preparatory period of Ukraine's establishment as a subject of international relations; the second –
1992-1994 – the institutional, personnel, and conceptual formation of the foreign policy
and diplomatic service of Ukraine within the system of international relations; the third – 1995-1996 –
the consolidation of Ukraine's role in the system of international relations; the fourth – 1997-2000 –
the determination of a strategic foreign-policy course and work toward establishing
Ukraine as a genuine leader; 2004-2008 – the unfolding of Ukraine's strategy of European and
Euro-Atlantic integration, and the influence of domestic political processes on Ukraine's international
standing. We believe that the years since have been the most difficult stage for Ukraine
in determining its foreign-policy priorities and implementing them, since the number of complex
and demanding tasks it has had to address simultaneously has been unprecedented in
modern world history. Nevertheless, under complex and contradictory conditions, Ukraine
has determined the nature and content of its foreign policy on the international stage; it has not only
built virtually all of the country's main institutions essentially from "scratch," but has built them on
a democratic model.
Over the years of independence, Ukraine has become a full-fledged member of the world community,
having taken a clear place within it, and has established itself as an influential European state. Already by the first
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anniversary of the declaration of independence, the status of the reborn Ukrainian state was recognized by 132
countries, 110 of which had established diplomatic relations with it. The process of international recognition
of independent Ukraine was subsequently completed with the establishment of relations with it by almost all
of the world's states that are members of the United Nations (UN): as of January 1, 2004,
173 countries of the world had recognized Ukraine and established diplomatic relations with it. In line
with international standards, the legal foundations of Ukraine's relations with foreign
countries were laid, as reflected in the many interstate and intergovernmental agreements and treaties
concluded in accordance with the norms of international law. Ukraine's international activity
contributed to achieving genuine recognition by the world community.
As of 2011, Ukraine was a member of 47 international organizations and took part in
the work of more than 100 permanent and temporary bodies established under international
agreements and treaties to which it is a party. Fifteen international organizations have official
representations in Ukraine. Ukraine's role in the world is also evidenced by its entry into key
European political and economic integration structures, and by the deepening of
transatlantic cooperation. It became a member of the Organization for Security and
Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) on January 30, 1992. Since then it has actively participated in the work of
all the OSCE's collective governing bodies (summits of participating states, meetings of
the Ministerial Council and the Permanent Council), and in the development and adoption of decisions on various aspects of
its activity. The OSCE is the only transatlantic security structure of which Ukraine
is a full member.
In September 1995, Ukraine became a member of the Council of Europe, joined
the Central European Initiative, signed the "Partnership for Peace" program,
raised its relations with NATO to a level of deepened and expanded cooperation,
and signed an Agreement with the European Union (EU). This political international activity
has helped expand Ukraine's equal participation in treaty-based legal relations with
foreign countries in every area of international life. These are, above all, issues of
common security, disarmament and the strengthening of peace, the protection of human rights,
environmental protection, the preservation of world cultural and natural heritage,
the use of the transportation network, maritime shipping, satellite communications, and so on.
A vivid illustration of the intensification of Ukraine's foreign-policy activity is
the process, at the state level, of concluding broad-scale bilateral treaties on
friendly relations and cooperation. Ukraine signed the first such international legal
document on December 6, 1991, with the Republic of Hungary; in 1992 –
with India, Turkey, Poland, Estonia, France, Bulgaria, Mongolia,
Uzbekistan, Moldova, and Azerbaijan; and in subsequent years – with Slovakia, the Czech Republic,
Italy, and with the remaining countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). In total, by
the start of 2004, the treaty-legal basis of Ukraine's international relations comprised 10,000
treaties and agreements of various legal status.
Thus, there is recognition – recorded in a number of international documents of authoritative
European and transatlantic structures with foreign countries – of the importance of
Ukraine's role and place on the European continent and in the world.
Today Ukraine is beginning to play an ever more prominent role on the international stage,
and new prospects are opening up before it. Despite difficult times over the
20 years of independence, and unfavorable external and internal crisis circumstances,
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Ukrainian diplomats have managed to accomplish the main task – ensuring the sovereignty,
territorial integrity, and inviolability of Ukraine's borders, and protecting its citizens around the
world. Ukraine has objectively established itself as a major European state with global
interests that influence the course of events in the world. In the authors' view, the main positive
outcome of the period under study is the experience gained through participation in interstate organizations
and the pursuit of foreign policy under the newest geopolitical conditions. It is precisely this experience that allows
for a more sober view of the surrounding reality, and, consequently, a more objective
conduct of the country's foreign-policy course, taking into account both international and
domestic factors.
Unfolding after the restoration of the political independence of the Ukrainian state, the
process of forming its foreign policy has proceeded in a complex and ambiguous way. On the one hand,
as noted above, positive shifts have occurred and certain achievements have been made on
the international stage; at the same time, in our view, Ukrainian foreign policy is still
in the stage of formation, and a search is underway for the most optimal ways to implement it under
the current conditions of the arrangement of the world order. A continuing problem is the uncertainty
of Europe's attitude toward Ukraine, on the one hand, and, on the other, Russia's quite evident claims to dominance in
the post-Soviet space. Unfortunately, it must be acknowledged that Ukraine lacks
domestic political consolidation of political forces on foreign-policy
issues. This significantly affects Ukraine's foreign policy and its international standing
in today's globalizing world.
At present, the process of Ukraine's establishment on the international stage continues; bilateral
relations and strategic partnerships with states important to it
are actively developing, ties with NATO and the EU are being expanded, and national interests are being defended in
complex relations with certain neighboring states. In defending its national
interests, Ukraine seeks to strike a balance in political and economic relations with
the countries of West and East, North and South. Political realism helps Ukraine
solve the task of preserving national sovereignty under conditions of globalization and
further securing a worthy place on the international stage.
Today, as Ukraine is an independent state, its relations with the world and Europe
are broad in scope, resting on a growing political and legal basis
of international relations. Having emerged from a long shared Soviet past, Ukraine,
unlike many post-Soviet states, is building its future on the basis of
European democratic values. The Ukrainian people have made a clear civilizational
choice in favor of European democracy and the affirmation of the rights and freedoms of the citizen, and thereby
of socio-political entry into Europe. By integrating into contemporary
international relations and pursuing its course of European integration, Ukraine, together with
the European community, is trying to shape the continent's common future, ensuring
its independent advancement and entry into the circle of highly developed post-industrial states
of Europe and the world. Ukraine pays particular attention to developing bilateral relations with
neighboring countries, the states of the West, Asia, the Asia-Pacific region (APR),
Africa, and Latin America. In the process of developing international relations, Ukraine
is diversifying the directions of its foreign policy. Ukraine's leading partners
remain the Russian Federation, the United States of America, and the countries of the European
Union.
The key benchmarks of Ukraine's contemporary foreign policy are pursuing an
open, consistent, well-considered, and predictable foreign-policy course, and
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striving for equal cooperation with all interested partners; developing
relations with other states and international organizations on the basis of the principles of
voluntariness, mutual respect, mutual benefit, and non-interference in the internal affairs of each of the
parties; condemning war as an instrument of national policy and seeking to resolve
any international disputes exclusively by peaceful means; not putting forward territorial
claims against neighboring states and not recognizing any territorial claims against itself;
observing the principle of the indivisibility of international peace and international security,
and upholding in foreign policy the approach of "security for oneself through security for all";
upholding the rule of law in foreign policy and recognizing the international priority of
law.
The years marked by global historical shifts became an era. The period since 1991
has been decisive for the transformation of the modern system of international relations. It is precisely this period that has been
the time of the Ukrainian state's establishment on the international stage, of gaining a worthy place in
the world community, and of filling with concrete content its bilateral relations with
the majority of countries with which it has established diplomatic relations.
Thus, let us emphasize that Ukraine now maintains full-scale
diplomatic relations with more than 170 states on every continent, cooperates in numerous
regional and world organizations, and, in the most universal and influential of them – the United
Nations – stood among the founding states. It is
a party to more than 4,000 international legal documents. The processes of globalization and
the growing convergence of peoples and states, which have unfolded most intensively since the 20th
century, are reflected in the rapid growth of Ukraine's ties abroad, producing an inevitable
influence on the state and dynamics of shifts in its domestic life.
At the current stage, international organizations, as a form of international cooperation
and multilateral diplomacy, play a very important role. A defining feature
of contemporary international organizations is the continued expansion of their competences and
the growing complexity of their structure. Today the total number of such organizations
is approaching 5,000, of which more than 400 are intergovernmental. One can therefore confidently
speak of a world system of international organizations, at the center of which is undoubtedly
the UN.
The sovereignty of a state means, among other things, the independence of its foreign policy.
Ukraine's acquisition of the attributes of a fully developed state and a subject of international relations
is taking place under quite complex, contradictory, and, to a certain extent, unique conditions.
After a long period of monopoly by the ruling circles over the determination of
foreign-policy course, forces with differing, often
opposing, socio-political positions are now involved in shaping it, and this complicates the development of
a unified national course in our country's international relations.
International political relations are actively studied by analysts. A number
of concepts have been produced, among which the most widespread are:
Globalist-futurological concepts, whose most characteristic features
are:
the future society is expected to be more politically and economically stable;
universal human norms and values will play the defining role in it;
the foundation of this society will be the structures of civil society.
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Today Ukraine is a full-fledged member of the world community, which could not
be said of the not-so-distant past. Ukraine's attainment of state independence, alongside
many other issues, raised a number of problems in the sphere of international relations.
These include developing its own position, style, and skills in relations with the outside world,
a new, independent type of relationship with the states of the former USSR, the so-called "near
abroad," and, along with all this, Ukraine's inclusion in the integration processes unfolding
among the developed states of Europe.
Given Ukraine's geopolitical position, several
possible variants of its foreign-policy strategy can be distinguished:
1) orientation toward integration into the Eurasian space;
2) orientation toward integration into European and Euro-Atlantic structures (the EU and NATO);
An orientation toward integration into the European Union and
NATO is quite attractive for Ukraine.
Accession to the EU would give Ukraine the opportunity to make use of the favorable possibilities
of the international division of labor, and to rise to the level of economic, social, and
democratic development of the leading European countries. European integration is a
key priority, one that accumulates a whole complex of Ukraine's domestic and
foreign-policy efforts aimed at moving closer to the EU and creating the necessary
preconditions for accession to the European Union in the future.
An organic part of Ukraine's course of European integration is providing
diplomatic support for completing the process of Ukraine's accession to the WTO.
Euro-Atlantic integration means protecting Ukraine's security interests, participating in creating
a Euro-Atlantic space of stability and security, and gradually integrating into NATO.
The achievement of this goal is to be accomplished through the use of cooperation mechanisms with
NATO, including the Action Plan and annual Target Plans, as well as through accession to the Membership
Action Plan. At the bilateral level, Ukraine seeks to make full use of the
potential of strategic partnership based on mutual interest and shared approaches to
developing relations with the US, Russia, and Poland; to achieve and maintain good relations with
neighboring countries in an atmosphere of respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity,
and to achieve the goal of promoting European values in the region, in particular through active
participation in resolving frozen conflicts.
Ukraine pursues an active multilateral policy within universal and
regional international organizations. Participation in the UN is aimed above all at
advancing Ukraine's interests in the process of adopting decisions of the greatest importance
for the entire world community.
Activity within the OSCE will remain an important factor in supplementing and
expanding regional and overall stability and security in Europe.
A priority for ensuring Ukraine's strategic interests is economic expansion into
both traditional and new markets for Ukrainian goods and services in the Middle East,
Latin America, Asia, and Africa.
Ukraine has identified the following priority directions:
European integration – as a key priority accumulating a whole
complex of Ukraine's domestic and foreign-policy efforts aimed at moving closer to the EU
and creating the necessary preconditions for accession to the European Union in the future.
An organic part of Ukraine's course of European integration is providing diplomatic
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support for completing the process of Ukraine's accession to the WTO.
which unites 27 member states (in July 2013 Croatia officially became its 28th member),
has passed through all stages of integration-building – a free-trade zone, a customs union,
and a political union – and has become the largest political-economic creation in the modern world,
with the largest gross domestic product, which in 2011 reached 12.65 trillion euros, or
25,200 euros (33,500 dollars) per capita, out of a total population of 503
million people. The EU ranks first among the world's exporters of goods and services
(32.9% of world export volume in 2011) as well as among the world's importers (33.5% of
world import volume).
some post-Soviet states have recognized the use of the European model in Eurasian
integration-building.
Euro-Atlantic integration – protecting Ukraine's interests, participating in
creating a Euro-Atlantic space of stability and security, and gradually integrating into
NATO. The achievement of this goal is to be accomplished through the use of
cooperation mechanisms with NATO, in particular the Action Plan and annual Target Plans, as well as
accession to the Membership Action Plan.
At the bilateral level, Ukraine seeks to make full use of the potential
of strategic partnership based on mutual interest and shared approaches to
developing relations with the US, Russia, and Poland;
with neighboring countries in an atmosphere of respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity,
and to achieve the goal of promoting European values in the region, in particular through active
participation in resolving frozen conflicts.
Ukraine pursues an active multilateral policy within universal and
regional international organizations. Participation in the UN is aimed, above all, at
advancing Ukraine's interests in the process of adopting decisions of the greatest importance
for the entire world community. Activity within the OSCE will remain an important
factor in supplementing and expanding regional and overall stability and security in Europe.
An important priority for ensuring Ukraine's strategic interests is
economic expansion into both traditional and new markets for Ukrainian goods
and services in the Middle East, Latin America, Asia, and Africa.
A permanent priority of foreign policy and an area of special attention for
Ukraine's diplomatic and consular institutions is the protection of Ukrainian citizens abroad
and of the rights of the Ukrainian diaspora, which remain constantly at the center of attention.
Not pursuing aggressive aims, Ukraine has confirmed its adherence to the terms of the 1991
treaty between the US and the USSR on the limitation and reduction of strategic offensive nuclear
weapons, and its intention to become in future a non-nuclear and neutral state; it
observes the 1990 Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe, and shapes its military potential
within the minimum necessary solely for defensive purposes.
This strategy has led to Ukraine's active recognition by many states and the establishment with it
of diplomatic relations.
Encouraging is the development of Ukraine's relations with Western European countries, which
is a consequence of the recognition of its important geopolitical position;
the restoration of former and the development of new economic ties with post-Soviet
countries, above all with Russia;
there are also problems in Russian-Ukrainian relations.
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Ukraine's foreign-policy strategy is understood differently by different people.
Some favor Ukraine's orientation toward the West and its separation from Russia, while others prefer
an orientation toward the East, above all toward Russia. Some advocate Ukraine's neutrality, others – for
its active participation in collective efforts to support peace and security in the world. Ukraine's geopolitical
orientation toward Europe does not mean isolation from Russia. Ukraine's real situation
requires directing its foreign-policy efforts wherever it can secure its own
national interests. It is also important to determine to what extent its participation in the processes taking
place in Europe, Russia, and other CIS countries is consistent with those interests.
The factors influencing the Ukrainian state's role in international affairs include:
Ukraine's geographical position – it has an internally unified territory, access to the sea,
established channels of communication with many countries of Europe and Asia; a population of many millions
places Ukraine among the great powers of the world; rich deposits of coal, iron, and manganese
ore, fertile black-earth soils, significant reserves of fresh water, and a climate favorable to health;
developed energy, metallurgical, and machine-building industries, a powerful
potential in aircraft manufacturing, the space industry, and the defense sector; combat-capable armed forces;
the absence of acute interethnic conflicts; Ukrainian society's recognition, as
priorities, of universal human values and its condemnation of double standards;
the gradual development of a democratic political system; the desire of the majority of the population
to see the Ukrainian state strong and prosperous; Ukraine's growing popularity in
every sphere of public life within the world community, and so on.
At the same time, there are also factors that weaken Ukraine's influence:
Ukraine's proximity to countries whose expansion its territory once experienced; the emergence of
a trend toward declining population growth; the lack of sufficient oil, gas,
cotton, and other natural resources; the weakening of the country's economy through the conversion
of production, changes in the structure of its industries and in its markets, the growth of
the shadow economy, and a large financial debt to foreign states; attempts by
certain countries to pursue a form of neocolonialism toward Ukraine by imposing
unequal prices, exerting economic pressure, and forcing disadvantageous deals aimed at limiting
its political sovereignty; the absence of firm socio-political, national,
ideological, and religious unity among the people of Ukraine; the existence within it of pro-
Ukrainian, pro-Russian, pro-American, and other sentiments, and even separatist
actions. All this confirms that Ukraine is a young state. Its foreign-policy course and
geopolitical orientations are still being formed and refined in accordance with the
international situation. But the principles underlying this course correspond to the progressive
trends of the contemporary world political process and will help position
Ukraine as a full-fledged member of the world community.
Ukraine is a young state. Its foreign-policy course and geopolitical orientations are still
being formed and will continue to be refined in accordance with the international situation. But the principles
underlying this course correspond to the progressive trends of the contemporary world
political process. The globalization of world political processes is accelerating.
It has its own preconditions and driving factors. These factors include: the creation of a technical base for
international connections; the information revolution; the internationalization of capital; the growing
shortage of natural resources; the demographic explosion, especially in less developed regions;
environmental threats to humanity; the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction; and increasing migration
of population. Thus, from what has been said above, it can be concluded that Ukraine takes an active
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part in shaping political conditions on the international stage by being a member of many
influential international organizations, within which it carries on active work that,
moreover, reflects not only common but also the national interests of our state. Since
attaining independence, Ukraine gained membership in influential international
organizations earlier than almost any other former Soviet republic, which speaks
in favor of our state and is an indicator of Ukraine's growing authority in the world. But, as
ancient wisdom has it, quality is better than quantity. Therefore, it seems to me, Ukraine must above all
improve and enhance its work within the organizations of which it is already a member.
The global nature of the changes that have directly affected Ukraine's international status
and determine its place in the world community is conditioned by several key
factors: the collapse of the balance-of-power system that existed during the "Cold War";
the domination of the USA as the sole world superpower after the collapse of the Soviet Union and
the Warsaw Pact; the preservation and strengthening of NATO as a transcontinental
collective-security system, coupled with the relatively weak conflict-resolution mechanisms
possessed by the European Union and the OSCE; a trend toward
the formation of a multipolar configuration, in particular aimed at creating a counterweight to the political
and economic influence of the US, with distinct centers of gravity differing in political, economic, and military-technical strength; and attempts to construct
a pan-European – transatlantic – Eurasian collective-security system.
Fundamental to Ukraine's foreign policy as a European state
remains ensuring the external factors of national development and security, and its active
participation in developing the new system of international relations and in further shaping
a favorable climate for political, economic, and cultural
cooperation with all countries of the world on both a bilateral and multilateral basis.
it will gain the status of an independent geopolitical actor, thereby creating a foundation for
successful national development and making an extremely important contribution to shaping
the newest security system.