Transformation of the international image of Ukraine in the context of the visa regime in the conditions of the struggle for european values: on the example of the European Union and Canada

Abstract

The article is devoted to highlighting the issue of formation and development of the international image of Ukraine in the context of the visa regime. In particular, this issue is considered in the article on the example of the introduction of a visa-free regime of Ukraine with the EU and a simplified visa regime of Ukraine with Canada. The introduction of the visa-free regime is recognized as Ukraine's greatest success on the way to European integration. The advantages of introducing a visa-free regime of Ukraine with the EU and a simplified visa regime of Ukraine with Canada were considered. At the same time, the advantages of visa liberalization, in addition to the advantage of the direct introduction of a visa-free regime of Ukraine with the EU, include the introduction of biometric passports. After all, the innovation regarding biometric passports within the limits of the introduction of a visa-free regime significantly simplifies the visa regime of Ukraine with countries, whose territory is not covered by the visa-free regime within the framework of the agreement with the EU. Among these, in particular, is Canada. It was found out that the cooperation between Canada and Ukraine started since Soviet times, but intense bilateral relations began to develop precisely in the 1990s, after the declaration of independence. The dynamics of Canada's visa policy towards Ukraine under the influence of various factors is illustrated. Emphasis is placed on the important role in the formation of a positive image of Ukraine in the Canadian political community of the Ukrainian diaspora, which, being a non-economic pressure group, is actively included in the process of forming Ukrainian-Canadian relations. The advantages and disadvantages of the Canadian-Ukrainian emergency travel permit are analyzed. The undoubted influence on ensuring the possibility of opening the CUAET program of the Ukrainian diaspora and the «special partnership» of Ukraine with Canada was noted. Threats to the further development of Ukraine’s relations with the EU and Canada in terms of the visa regime have been identified. It was concluded that in the post-war perspective, one of the priority tasks of the Ukrainian state should be to take a number of measures in terms of ensuring the stability of the visa-free regime with the EU and the introduction of the visa-free regime with Canada.