Magomedov A. Ukraine and NATO in the context of socio-political transformations of the 1990s. – XXI c.

The dissertation study of Ukraine and NATO in the context of socio-political transformations of the 1990 s. The dissertation study of Ukraine and NATO in the context of socio-political transformations of the 1990s and early 21st century examines the formation of mutual relations between Ukraine and NATO against the background of foreign policy actions of neighbouring states and geopolitical challenges of the beginning of the new millennium. The key problem-solving blocks of the study include socio-political transformations in Ukraine in the 1990s of the twentieth century. - The main problem and content blocks of the research include social and political transformations in Ukraine in the 1990s of the XXI century and their effect on Ukraine-NATO relations, the development of Ukraine-NATO relations in the conditions of 1991-2020 foreign policy challenges; the key directions and forms of Ukraine's cooperation with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization; International military exercises of NATO member states involving Ukrainian Armed Forces units; the involvement of the Ukrainian military in NATO's international peacekeeping operations and NATO's involvement in the reform of the Ukrainian security sector and Ukraine's membership prospects in the Alliance. The study analyzes in a logical sequence the whole spectrum of the beginning and development of Ukraine's cooperation with NATO. A particular attention is paid to the analysis of internal and foreign policy challenges to Ukraine's security during the period under study, which at a certain historical stage of its development were unappreciated or even ignored by the Ukrainian political leadership. The role and significance of international multinational military exercises under NATO auspices, a powerful deterrent, especially in the context of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, is rethought. Taking a critical approach, the contribution of the Ukrainian military to international peacekeeping operations has been characterised, often the subject of excessive political speculation and exaggeration by various political forces and groups, including pro-Russian ones. The contribution of the Alliance to the implementation of defence reform in Ukraine and the missteps made by the Ukrainian authorities in the process of building the state's military organisation have been highlighted. The paper identifies potential threats to Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic integration from the Russian Federation, in particular the use of media resources with pro-Russian content, the cultivation of religious intolerance among believers of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate), the presence of Russian political forces in Ukrainian politics, the destabilising economic expansion of Russian economic and financial industrial groups in the Ukrainian economy sector, etc. There is a reluctance on the part of some NATO countries (Germany, Hungary, the Czech Republic) to spoil relations with Russia due to potential threats to their economic well-being through the possible loss of access to Russian markets for raw materials, labour and trade. The question of bright prospects for Ukraine's accession to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization remains open against the background of continuous improvement in the military and political organization of member countries and the total lag of the Ukrainian state in this respect. The old ex-Soviet system of social standards and economic development remains unbalanced, and a new one that meets the standards of Euro-Atlantic cooperation has yet to be established.