Diplomatic Activity of Vasyl Paneyko in the Context of International Recognition of the West Ukrainian People’s Republic

Abstract

The article is devoted to the study of Vasyl Paneyko’s diplomatic activity in the context of the West Ukrainian People’s Republic’s (WUPR) struggle for international recognition during its state-building period of 1918–1919. The paper analyzes the key directions of the WUPR’s foreign policy strategy and defines Paneyko’s role as the State Secretary of Foreign Affairs in shaping and implementing the diplomatic policy of the newly established state.

Particular attention is paid to Paneyko’s work on the international stage, his contacts with the Entente powers, efforts to secure political and material support, and attempts to ensure the WUPR’s legitimacy in the global community. The study also examines the organizational aspects of the diplomatic service of the new republic, the development of foreign policy documents, cooperation with other Ukrainian political and military institutions, and the influence of the geopolitical situation on the effectiveness of diplomatic efforts.

The article demonstrates that Paneyko’s contribution to the WUPR’s foreign policy was significant: he combined active international engagement with strategic planning for the unification of Ukrainian territories and the representation of Ukrainian interests in negotiations with leading European states. The author emphasizes that research on this topic remains fragmented, and a comprehensive analysis of Paneyko’s role allows for a deeper understanding of the mechanisms of diplomatic support for Ukrainian statehood during the period of national liberation struggles.

This work is intended for historians, international relations specialists, political scientists, researchers of Ukrainian state-building and diplomacy, as well as anyone interested in the processes of nation-state formation and international relations in Central and Eastern Europe in the early twentieth century.