European Union and Ukraine: The strategic partnership leading to (some)where?

This article analyses the evolving nature of the strategic relationship between Ukraine and the EU since the onset of the second decade of the 21st century. The author aims to show that, although the two sides have for years been elevating their ties through the neighbourhood policy and the Eastern...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Miloš Petrović
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Institute of International Politics and Economics, Belgrade 2022-03-01
Series:Međunarodni Problemi
Subjects:
Online Access:https://internationalproblems.rs/wp-content/uploads/MP/2022/1/MP-2022-1-article-4.pdf
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849686416294936576
author Miloš Petrović
author_facet Miloš Petrović
author_sort Miloš Petrović
collection DOAJ
description This article analyses the evolving nature of the strategic relationship between Ukraine and the EU since the onset of the second decade of the 21st century. The author aims to show that, although the two sides have for years been elevating their ties through the neighbourhood policy and the Eastern Partnership strategic initiative, Kyiv’s ultimate ambition has always been focused on securing the EU membership perspective. The author considers the Ukrainian EU membership request precarious due to the Union’s concerns over stability, Kyiv’s territorial integrity problems and the ongoing war, the unfavourable impact for the current membership candidates, but also since such a request sets a precedent for the other eastern partners. To explicate the abovementioned aspects, the author primarily uses the historical method and the document analysis, to clarify in greater detail the chief political events which have gradually led towards the current state. Research conclusions point out that, despite Ukraine’s right to apply for EU membership, such a request is unlikely to result in a speedy accession, due to a variety of abovementioned aspects, coupled with a complicated decision-making process in the Union in that regard. In spite of that, the EU intends to continue supporting Ukraine as a strategic partner in a variety of domains, including also an indirect aid in combating the Russian military incursion. The author finds that the EU’s response to the membership application will have extensive ramifications not only on the two parties’ relations, but also on the enlargement policy and the Eastern Partnership domain.
format Article
id doaj-art-ef5329a18b8f4c92a29526a6ec2f970b
institution DOAJ
issn 0025-8555
2406-0690
language English
publishDate 2022-03-01
publisher Institute of International Politics and Economics, Belgrade
record_format Article
series Međunarodni Problemi
spelling doaj-art-ef5329a18b8f4c92a29526a6ec2f970b2025-08-20T03:22:42ZengInstitute of International Politics and Economics, BelgradeMeđunarodni Problemi0025-85552406-06902022-03-017417510110.2298/MEDJP2201075PEuropean Union and Ukraine: The strategic partnership leading to (some)where?Miloš Petrović0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5696-5595Institute of International Politics and Economics, Belgrade, SerbiaThis article analyses the evolving nature of the strategic relationship between Ukraine and the EU since the onset of the second decade of the 21st century. The author aims to show that, although the two sides have for years been elevating their ties through the neighbourhood policy and the Eastern Partnership strategic initiative, Kyiv’s ultimate ambition has always been focused on securing the EU membership perspective. The author considers the Ukrainian EU membership request precarious due to the Union’s concerns over stability, Kyiv’s territorial integrity problems and the ongoing war, the unfavourable impact for the current membership candidates, but also since such a request sets a precedent for the other eastern partners. To explicate the abovementioned aspects, the author primarily uses the historical method and the document analysis, to clarify in greater detail the chief political events which have gradually led towards the current state. Research conclusions point out that, despite Ukraine’s right to apply for EU membership, such a request is unlikely to result in a speedy accession, due to a variety of abovementioned aspects, coupled with a complicated decision-making process in the Union in that regard. In spite of that, the EU intends to continue supporting Ukraine as a strategic partner in a variety of domains, including also an indirect aid in combating the Russian military incursion. The author finds that the EU’s response to the membership application will have extensive ramifications not only on the two parties’ relations, but also on the enlargement policy and the Eastern Partnership domain.https://internationalproblems.rs/wp-content/uploads/MP/2022/1/MP-2022-1-article-4.pdfukrainian crisiseu membership requestenlargement policyeastern partnershipneighbourhoodrussiaconflict
spellingShingle Miloš Petrović
European Union and Ukraine: The strategic partnership leading to (some)where?
Međunarodni Problemi
ukrainian crisis
eu membership request
enlargement policy
eastern partnership
neighbourhood
russia
conflict
title European Union and Ukraine: The strategic partnership leading to (some)where?
title_full European Union and Ukraine: The strategic partnership leading to (some)where?
title_fullStr European Union and Ukraine: The strategic partnership leading to (some)where?
title_full_unstemmed European Union and Ukraine: The strategic partnership leading to (some)where?
title_short European Union and Ukraine: The strategic partnership leading to (some)where?
title_sort european union and ukraine the strategic partnership leading to some where
topic ukrainian crisis
eu membership request
enlargement policy
eastern partnership
neighbourhood
russia
conflict
url https://internationalproblems.rs/wp-content/uploads/MP/2022/1/MP-2022-1-article-4.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT milospetrovic europeanunionandukrainethestrategicpartnershipleadingtosomewhere