A neighbour no more: evolution of Ukraine in the EU geopolitical discourse from the 1990s to the post-Russian invasion

Abstract

ABSTRACT The Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, in many ways, significantly altered the perceptions of both countries. This study employs a critical geopolitics framework to analyse the evolution of the EU’s geopolitical discourse on Ukraine from the 1990s to the aftermath of Russia’s 2022 invasion. By analysing the statements of EU officials, particularly within the European Commission, this research delves into the shifts that have shaped the EU’s stance on Ukraine’s positioning within the European spatial imaginaries, arguing that Ukraine’s geopolitical status within the European space has undergone transformative changes amidst Russia’s invasion, notably encapsulated in the evolving notions of ‘family’ and ‘responsibility’ articulated by EU officials.