CRISIS AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION AS AN INSTRUMENT OF EU-UKRAINE SECURITY COOPERATION

Abstract

Cooperation between Ukraine and the EU in the field of security constitutes an important part of bilateral relations since declaration of Ukraine’s independence. Interaction in the field of crises resolution and creating conditions for the peaceful settlement of conflict is one of the dimensions of the cooperation development. According to the documents it’s stated that there was the mutual interest of the  parties to develop this aspect of cooperation, which, however, was based on different motives. Ukraine sought to use this tool to strengthen its international position. Meanwhile the EU was guided by the idea that cooperation might become a mechanism for spreading the principles of democracy and good governance in order to achieve stability and guarantee security in the region. At the same time, the article argues that dualism of interaction between Ukraine and the EU in this area takes place. On the one hand, the EU plays a role of crisis manager to settle the critical situations that have appeared on the territory of the Ukrainian state. On the other hand, representatives of Ukraine successfully participate in missions and operations of the European Union aimed to resolve crises and conflicts. In the first case, the approach of Brussels and the EU’s contribution to resolving such crisis like the process of nuclear disarmament of Ukraine, the events of Maidan in 2004, the political crisis in late 2013, and the Russian-Ukrainian conflict are analyzed. The other side of cooperation is viewed in the context of Ukraine’s participation in the EU special missions, for example, in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Moldova, Georgia. In addition, an attention is paid to an intensification of defense cooperation, which is recognized an important aspect of stabilizing the situation in Ukraine as well as a significant part of interaction in the context of the Global Strategy for the European Union’s Foreign and Security Policy implementation. The factors that influence the prospects for further cooperation are studied as well. It is noted that the main obstacles to rise up the effectiveness of cooperation are certain limitations of the capabilities of both Ukraine and the EU. However, it is emphasized that it is impossible to ensure the safety of EU citizens, a key priority of the current strategy of the Union, without restoring the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine.