Zarembo K. The influence of the EU Common Security and Defence Policy on the realization of Ukraine's security interests

The thesis is dedicated to the analysis of how the EU Common Security and Defence policy influences the realization of Ukraine’s security interests. The theoretical framework of the thesis is based on the weak state security theory and security sector reform (SSR). It is argued that Ukraine as post-colonial state falls under the definition of a weak state, as suggested by Barry Buzan (the Copenhagen school). In order to increase the CSDP impact in Ukraine and beyond, a number of recommendations are suggested, e.g. formulating the mission’s mandate in close consultation with the host country government, dispatching an institution-building mission before (preventively) and not after the eruption of a crisis, explore the possibility of dispatching an EU mission to the East of Ukraine, etc.