TRANSFORMATION OF UKRAINE TO EUROPEAN AND EURO-ATLANTIC STANDARDS IN THE CONTEXT OF THE RUSSIAN-UKRAINIAN WAR

Abstract

Background. Today, European integration and the Euro-Atlantic course are the main and unchanging foreign policy priority of Ukraine and the choice of the Ukrainian people, which is directly enshrined in the Constitution of Ukraine. The experience of European integration processes and the implementation of Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic course in the context of war is unique. Despite Russia's armed aggression, being in a deep migration and economic crisis as a result of the war, Ukraine has gained the status of an EU candidate, received a package of recommendations from NATO on priority reforms before accession, and has not stopped and continues pro-European reforms in various areas, deepening international cooperation, implementing the provisions of the Association Agreement and the recommendations of the European Commission. Despite the turbulence in almost all spheres of state and society as a result of Russia's military intervention, it should be acknowledged that the country's European integration processes have not stopped and have even accelerated, having received incredible support from Ukrainian society, as evidenced by the results of sociological research by the Razumkov Centre. While in March 2021, 59 % of citizens believed that Ukraine should join the EU, in October 2022, 79 % shared this opinion. At the same time, while in previous years, doubts about their European identity prevailed among citizens, in October 2022, 63 % said they felt like Europeans, and that they belonged to the culture and traditions of the European community. At the same time, when considering the security factor, most researchers and Ukrainians in general believe that it is the Euro-Atlantic vector of Ukraine that should ensure it. From 29 September to 9 October 2023, the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) conducted its own all-Ukrainian public opinion poll, Omnibus. According to the results of previous KIIS polls, 82 % of respondents agree that Ukraine's future as a prosperous and free country depends on whether it becomes a member of the EU (February 2023). At the same time, 92 % of Ukrainians would like Ukraine to become a member of the EU, and 89 % would like it to become a member of NATO (May 2023). That is, there is currently a consensus in society to support European and Euro-Atlantic integration, and if the focus of the survey shifts towards the security factor, 54 % of Ukrainians believe that NATO membership is currently a higher priority in terms of security. The relevance of the research topic is primarily due to the need to summarise certain aspects of the long-term experience of formulating and implementing Ukraine's foreign policy towards European integration, to identify the main stages of the Euro-Atlantic and European integration strategy and to highlight the problematic issues and peculiarities of the current state of Ukraine's relations with the European Union and the Alliance in the context of Russia's armed aggression.

Methods. The following methods were used in the research: general scientific; methods, logical; comparative; sociological; structural-functional, as well as practical methods such as monitoring, comparative and quantitative content analysis, etc.

Results. The paper examines the state, problems and prospects of Ukraine's European integration and Euro-Atlantic aspirations. The main external and internal factors shaping the foundations of Ukraine's European integration and alliance policy and the main stages of integration processes that have already been implemented, launched and are being implemented in the context of the armed military conflict are systematically considered.

Conclusions. Having examined Ukraine's main steps towards European integration, it should be concluded that Ukraine is actively working to realise its European ambitions and is gradually approaching EU membership, while the policy of approximation to the European Union is forming a new generation of managers who will be ready to work systematically to implement European approaches and norms in Ukraine, which will help ensure Ukraine's security, economic development and the formation of a democratic, rule-of-law state based on a European identity. EU membership opens up opportunities for active cooperation with other member states, exchange of experience and implementation of best practices. The exchange of experience is important and useful not only for Ukraine, but also for EU and NATO member states. After all, none of the EU and NATO member states currently has such a wide range of experience, not only theoretical but also practical, in reforming a state in a state of economic crisis, unstable security situation and even armed aggression. Ukraine has much to learn and much to teach its Western partners. Today, humanity is facing the largest terrorist organisation in the world - Russia. And now this terrorist organisation poses a threat not only to Ukraine but also to the entire Western world. Therefore, the European transformation of Ukraine in the context of confrontation with such an insidious enemy is of utmost importance for the states of the European and Euro-Atlantic world.