State Policy of Ukraine in the Context of its European Integration

Abstract

The article examines the peculiarities of the formation of Ukraine’s state policy on European integration from the beginning of independence in 1991 to the present day. After a brief analysis of Ukraine’s state policy throughout the period of independence, the main emphasis is made on the current stage of development of Ukraine’s relations with the EU – after the Revolution of Dignity in 2014. It is shown that after the events of 2014, the state policy of Ukraine, which is aimed at integration with the EU, is qualitatively transformed and intensified. It is shown that the objectivity of the European direction of Ukraine’s foreign policy is logically conditioned by the geopolitical position and history of our state. The article analyzes the principles and trends in relations between Ukraine and the European Union, analyzes the most important stages and events that define the dialogue of our country with this international structure. Important integration factors are commitment to European values and European identity. In Ukraine, despite official statements about European integration as a foreign policy priority, the political elite does not always demonstrate consistency in the implementation of a certain foreign policy course. The success of the European integration strategy will depend on the implementation of reforms, norms and rules of the EU It has been proved that since the beginning of Ukraine’s independence, the real intensification of the state policy aimed at Ukraine’s European integration has intensified after the Revolution of Dignity. The high level of public support for the eropean inegration shows how much the situation in Ukraine has changed since 2014. Such events as the Euromaidan, Russia’s annexation of Crimea, the war in Donbass and Western sanctions against the Russian Federation have forced Ukraine to move away from its former multi–vector foreign policy. between the West and Moscow. Today, Ukraine’s cooperation with the EU is developing in all major priority areas, covering the economic, political, social and military sectors. The course for European integration follows from the very nature of Ukraine’s state independence, its desire to become an integral part of Europe.