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Zsfassung in engl. u. russ. Sprache. Engl. Zsfassung u.d.T.: The geopolitics of the Black Sea region in the post-cold war world

This concise paper explores the intricate relationship between thedynamics of the European Union and Russia's interests in Europe, emphasizingthe advantages perceived by Russia in a weakened EU. The paper is comprisedof three sections: firstly, it examines the collapse of the Soviet Unionand its impact on newly independent states, establishing the geopoliticallandscape. The subsequent section traces Russia's foreign policy leading tothe 2022 conflict with Ukraine, with a focus on Ukraine's pivotal role as a geopoliticalflashpoint. The final section explores the dynamics of the Russia-Ukraine war, specifically addressing the European Union's role in security.The paper concludes by addressing the 2022 escalation, marked by Russia'sfull-scale invasion of Ukraine, highlighting the imperative of understandingUkraine's status as a geopolitical flashpoint. Overall, the paper contributes toa nuanced comprehension of the evolving geopolitical landscape, its implicationsfor regional stability, and international relations.

This paper delves into the nuanced motivations underpinning Russia's 2014 invasion of Ukraine, centered on preserving stability for Putin's regime. Examining the intricate interplay between domestic and foreign concerns, the invasion emerged as a pivotal strategy to bolster domestic support and reinforce Russian leadership. Post-2012, Putin, in consolidating power through internal policies and external assertiveness, responded to catalysts - opposition protests in 2012 and Ukraine's "Revolution of Dignity" in 2014. State-controlled media played a crucial role in shaping narratives, framing the invasion as a defense against alleged Western "imperialist" threats. The paper scrutinises Putin's strategic evolution, highlighting the convergence of historical events, opposition dynamics, and media narratives in shaping the rationale behind Russia's impactful incursion into Ukraine.

The aim of this short paper is to show that the relations between Ukraine and Russia are extremely complex as they are built on a shared history, religion, language, and culture and they should not, therefore, be gauged by Western standards. Evaluating the current situation from a broader perspective, the fact that Ukraine plays a significant role in Russia's foreign policy needs to be emphasized. Ukraine is considered the key post-Soviet state, a significant "near abroad" country, whose position, potential, and geopolitical location are vital for the balance of power in both Eastern Europe and Europe in general. The research project aims at a synthetic examination of the current Russia-Ukraine war from the point of view of Ukraine striving for full independence, memory, and identity. Will the war of the brotherly nations wreck Russia's long-term policy towards Ukraine? Will the conflict ruin Russia's plans of post-Soviet space reintegration, whose pivot is set on Ukraine? Will the war stimulate Ukraine to deal with the issue of its identity, post-Soviet legacy, and collective memory?

The countries of NATO's eastern fl ank representing the so-called Bucharest Nine include Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Hungary. Over recent decades, NATO has adapted to new challenges and threats to the security environment. This article attempts to examine the ongoing armed confl ict between Russia and Ukraine from the perspective of NATO's eastern flank countries as well as to answer the following research questions: are NATO member states adequately responding to the threats arising from the armed conflict between Russia and Ukraine, and will NATO be revitalised as a result of Russia's revisionist policy?

The countries of NATO's eastern flank representing the so-called Bucharest Nine include Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Hungary. Over recent decades, NATO has adapted to new challenges and threats to the security environment. This article attempts to examine the ongoing armed conflict between Rus sia and Ukraine from the perspective of NATO's eastern flank countries as well as to answer the following research questions: are NATO member states adequately responding to the threats arising from the armed conflict between Russia and Ukraine, and will NATO be revitalised as a result of Russia's revisionist policy?

The geopolitical rivalry and the clash of interests between the superpowers have been present in the Black Sea region for centuries. During the Cold War when the East-West divide was at its height, the Black Sea was "excluded" from geopolitical competition between the superpowers as it became the domain of mainly one player – the Soviet Union. The dismantling of the Pax Sovietica and the subsequent collapse of the Cold War gave rise to a new geopolitical situation in the Black Sea region. The former USSR was superseded by the Russian Federation and other political entities independent from Russia, yet having strong bonds with the region both in terms of geography and their political and cultural interests. These were new states like Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, but also former Soviet satellite states such as Bulgaria and Romania. In other words, the collapse of the USSR entailed the emergence of a new system of geopolitical power in the post-Soviet space.

The paper aims at outlining the EU policy – including Poland's role in its development – towards the Union's eastern neighbours encompassed by the European Neighbourhood Policy and Eastern Partnership. The situation of the EU's eastern neighbours has become considerably complicated in the last two years (2014-2015). The Euromaidan revolution and war in the Donbas have led the EU Member States to direct their efforts towards stabilising the situation in Ukraine. As a consequence, discussions of future prospects and the EU policy towards Eastern Europe and the South Caucasus have been set aside. In addition, wars and conflicts occurring in the south of Europe along with the immigrants flooding southern EU Member States have led to the eastern neighbours and their problems being neglected (despite the fact that Ukraine is engulfed in war).

The present paper discusses the following research questions: to what extent did errors made by the previous presidents of Ukraine result in the country's failure to introduce systemic reforms (e.g. combating corruption, the development of a foundation for a stable state under the rule of law and free-market economy)?; can it be ventured that the lack of radical reforms along with errors in the internal politics of Ukraine under Petro Poroshenko resulted in the president's failure?; will the strong vote of confidence given to Volodymyr Zelensky and the Servant of the People party exact systemic reforms in Ukraine?; or will Volodymyr Zelensky merely become an element of the oligarchic political system in Ukraine?

Niniejszy artykuł – w sposób bardzo skrótowy – analizuje politykę Unii Europejskiej wobec wschodnich sąsiadów. W pierwszej kolejności ukazano sytuację UE (kryzysy, z jakimi boryka się Wspólnota), a następnie zaprezentowano sytuację państw wschodniego sąsiedztwa (przez pryzmat polityki Partnerstwa Wschodniego), z położeniem nacisku na tzw. kryzys ukraiński. Kryzys ukraiński, de facto trwający konflikt zbrojny Rosji z Ukrainą, powoduje, że zmianie uległa nie tylko sytuacja geopolityczna Europy Wschodniej, ale również warunki, w jakich realizowana jest polityka wschodnia Unii Europejskiej. Inaczej mówiąc, agresja Rosji na Ukrainę spowodowała, że UE znalazła się w bardzo trudnej sytuacji i zmuszona została do zmiany swej polityki względem Rosji. Projekt Partnerstwa Wschodniego Unii Europejskiej jest projektem długoterminowym i w takich kategoriach powinien być postrzegany. Należy również pamiętać, że wśród państw członkowskich Unii Europejskiej występują państwa przeciwne, obojętne lub sojusznicze w odniesieniu do polityki wschodniej Unii Europejskiej, w tym do inicjatywy Partnerstwa Wschodniego.