The evolution of Ukraine's role in international relations: from the emergence of statehood to the formation of a new European security architecture (1991–2024)

Abstract

One of the first and most important tasks for Ukraine in 1991 was to gain international recognition. The referendum of December 1, 1991 was recognized by the world's states as democratic. The first to recognize Ukraine as a sovereign state were Poland and Canada. Recognition of Ukraine's independence by its closest neighbors and major powers was important. This process testified to the recognition of Ukraine as a subject of international law and opened up new opportunities for cooperation.

Association with the European Union became a strategic goal of the state's foreign policy. The signing of the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU in 2014 was a significant achievement and opened up new prospects for the development of the Ukrainian economy, politics and society. However, the path to the EU turned out to be difficult and was accompanied by numerous challenges, in particular, Russian aggression. On June 23, 2022, Ukraine received the status of a candidate for EU membership. The purpose of the article is to retrospectively review the milestone events in international relations after 1991, in which Ukraine was directly involved as a subject of these relations.

The methodological basis of the article is the principle of historicism, as one of the fundamental in the scientific toolkit for studying phenomena and processes. The problem-chronological method involves reviewing the broad issues of international politics through the prism of a more detailed approach. The method of critical analysis of sources was used in studying the legislative framework of Ukraine's activities in the field of international relations, as well as in considering the course of certain events that are directly related to the topic of the article.

Cooperation with NATO and the USA is an important direction of Ukraine's foreign policy. Partnership with these countries is aimed at strengthening Ukraine's security, reforming the security and defense sector, as well as democratic transformations in the country. Russian aggression in eastern Ukraine has significantly strengthened the desire of Ukrainian society to integrate into Euro-Atlantic structures.

The study found that the key stages of international recognition, European integration and Euro-Atlantic integration of Ukraine reflect the continuous struggle for sovereignty and the formation of its independent role as an active subject of international relations.

The focus is on the relationship between Ukraine's internal transformations and its foreign policy priorities, in particular in the context of Russian aggression, highlighting how this affects the formation of a new European security architecture.