European Ukraine Research Articles

Digital reconstructions of home-making during shuttle refuge: Ukrainian refugees’ experiences in Germany

This article addresses how transient international refugees create new digital reconstructions of home-making when physically and mentally shuttling between two or more places of residence. Worldwide crises force millions of international refugees to adapt to new ways of constant remigration between their temporary places of residence and their home country. Instead of settling in a new place of residence, many international refugees often have difficulties feeling at home where they do not want to be. This article focuses on current refugees from Ukraine in Europe who shuttle between their homeland and their host country. The actual process of the refugees’ constant balancing between physically and mentally leaving and arriving at their home and host countries is coined ‘shuttle refuge’ in this article. It emphasizes the loss of a permanent home during refuge and portrays the necessity of digital reconstructions of home-making with friends and family via communication media due to the unavailability of a constant physical home. After addressing the legal circumstances that currently contribute to the ongoing state of temporariness, this article illustrates practices and effects of the shuttle refugee through a group interview with six recent Ukrainian refugees in Germany at the beginning of the year 2023 to shed light on the interviewees’ adaption to a new cultural environment and their efforts in digital home-making practices with their families and friends.

European public opinion: united in supporting Ukraine, divided on the future of NATO

Abstract • How strong is public support for Ukraine in Europe? Given reports that Russian President Vladimir Putin may be ‘playing for time’ in the hopes that weary publics will demand an end to supporting Ukraine, this is an important question. • In February 2023, we conducted a survey of public attitudes in ten major European countries: France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Estonia, Hungary, Poland, Finland, Sweden, Italy and Spain. • Our findings suggest that Europeans are (almost) unanimous in blaming Russia for the war and strongly in favour of standing by Ukraine in its war effort. • Only minorities of respondents are of the opinion that Ukraine should be urged to accept territorial losses that could help end the war, or that economic sanctions against Russia should be lifted. Even in countries where support for Ukraine is lower (Hungary and Italy), or among more sceptical groups, we typically find a majority or plurality on Ukraine's side (or, at worst, we find only a small majority are pro-Russia). • Regarding NATO, there is no widespread appetite for increasing its presence in eastern Europe (except in Poland and Estonia), and even less support for Ukraine joining the alliance. At least in the eyes of the public, fighting a war in Ukraine is perceived as a goal in itself that does not necessarily elicit broader changes to existing security alliances like NATO. • Looking ahead, if the gap between the expectations audiences had for the Ukrainian counter-offensive and what it actually delivers is too great, we would expect public support for Ukraine in the conflict to weaken overall. • If governments wish to keep support levels high, we recommend targeting communications to reach groups we have found to be less supportive. This could include utilizing non-traditional media platforms to reach younger audiences, or members of populist right-wing groups.

From garbage wars to green city: Defining Ukraine's European identity

AbstractA 2016 fire at a landfill near the western city of L'viv instigated a political crisis around the issue of waste management in Ukraine. The ensuing debates among the L'viv city government, the national government, and local stakeholders show how waste management becomes a mechanism through which to interrogate questions of state‐citizen relations and what it means to be part of Europe. This article argues that processes of Europeanization rely on the arbitrary application of standards and result in a hierarchy in which countries such as Ukraine are considered not‐yet‐fully European. However, this does not prevent pro‐European Ukrainians, who ground their vision of Ukraine's European future in the 2013–2014 Euromaidan protests, from advocating for Ukraine to adopt European standards. This article homes in on the shifting relationship between citizens and state representatives and the development of ecological consciousness as key points by which interlocutors measured Ukraine's path toward Europe, showing how the crisis around waste management in L'viv allows for the contestation of Europeanness itself. While not all Ukrainians have adopted these ideas about European Ukraine, in the context of Russia's devastating invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Ukrainians have become increasingly united around the idea of a European future.

The Situation of Forced Migrants from Ukraine in Europe after Russian Military Aggression and the Problems of Ukraine’s Migration Policy in These New Conditions

The Situation of Forced Migrants from Ukraine in Europe after Russian Military Aggression and the Problems of Ukraine’s Migration Policy in These New Conditions

Inclusion of Ukrainian children with special needs in Germany

Today, in the context of the war in Ukraine, more and more Ukrainian refugees are seeking refuge in European countries, and a significant number of Ukrainians are temporarily staying in Germany. As of April 2023, 205,000 children and young people from Ukraine are integrated into the German education system. A particular challenge is the inclusion of children with special educational needs in Germany and all over Europe. This article analyzes the current situation and main challenges related to the integration of Ukrainians in Germany. The purpose of the article is to explore the main difficulties associated with the inclusion of children with special needs in the German education system. For coping with this huge and complicated problem, we should develop some strategies for teachers and parents to make them understand the causes of the main difficulties; also we should give them instruments to improve current situation and minimize maladaptation in the future. The first step for all these purposes is to analyze the near future: explore the main challenges for Ukrainian refugees in the German education system and analyze the prospects for efficient inclusion of this group of students into German education institutions. In the course of the study, based on the results of a survey of parents of children with special needs, the main challenges for children with special needs and their parents when integrating into German society were recognized. They are conditions of chronic stress, language barrier, and difficulties with integration into peer groups. As for the school environment, the main problems are the lack of Ukrainian-speaking teachers and insufficient attention of the teaching staff to the processes of socialization, integration and behavioral characteristics of children. Strengthening special support for children in the educational environment is also desirable. The processes of comprehensive integration of Ukrainian refugees into both educational and social environments require further study, because most of the problems faced by children with disabilities and their parents in Germany are also characteristic of the wider refugee population from Ukraine in Europe. Keywords: Ukrainian refugees, inclusion, children with special needs, German education system.

КОЛЬОРОВІ ІДІОМИ В ЛІНГВОКУЛЬТУРНОМУ РОЗУМІННІ ІМПЛІЦИТНОГО ЗНАЧЕННЯ В АНГЛІЙСЬКІЙ ТА УКРАЇНСЬКІЙ МОВАХ

The article examines the problem of using the complete idioms with colors in English and Ukrainian. The article covers the definition of idioms and various approaches to their study and use by famous linguists. The authors present a classification of idioms, in particular semantic and structural. In addition, the syntactic study of constituents consisting of color idioms is considered. The researching discusses the implicit nature of color idioms in English and Ukrainian. The term "implicit meaning" is considered as the meaning that may not be obvious to speakers of foreign languages. The research work mainly analyzes common color idioms found in English and Ukrainian languages, as well as those idioms that have no semantic or structural equivalents in the compared languages. The relevance of this work lies in the fact that today's realities, the global interrelationships of nations and the cultural varieties of our planet in the 21st century, the growing needs for communication and work between countries and people of different languages ​​and cultural traditions require the training of highly qualified teachers who are able to participate in international communication and international cooperation and the formation of a new attitude towards Ukraine in Europe and around the world. That is why today the research and use of the linguistic phenomenon associated with color idioms is considered as one of the problems that is in the center of attention of linguists all over the world.

Некоторые проблемы политического позиционирования Украины (2014–2021)

In 1991, Ukraine got the opportunity to provide real content to the sovereignty proclaimed in 1918 and to acquire international political subjectivity. This had to be done in the context of a change in the political system inside the country and the world order outside. Whether it manages to do this will determine both its political future and the political configuration of Eastern Europe. Since late 1980 s, political positioning of Ukraine in Europe and in the world has passed several stages. The current one, which began in 2014, is far from complete, despite the constitutional entrenchment of its objectives. Its direction and duration depend primarily on, but not only on, Russian-Ukrainian relations. Their current status actualizes for Ukraine the task of finding strategic partners and allies. Ukraine has chosen its political position, which is unlikely to change soon. The interaction of Ukraine with other states of Eastern Europe in economic and social development in a mode of conjugate modernization not only does not exclude, but also implies sine qua non the appearance of other integration projects, besides the EU and the EAEU. Finding mutually acceptable political algorithms for such conjugation is one of the most pressing political tasks for Eastern Europe, Ukraine and all other states in this part of the world.

Toward a Stable Ukraine in Europe: Informal 'Analysis of Options' Perspective

Toward a Stable Ukraine in Europe: Informal 'Analysis of Options' Perspective

Informational support of public administration mechanisms in the cinematographic sphere

In the context of the development of modern Ukrainian society, special attention regarding to cin- ematography is given to its informational support by means of state administration mechanisms. There is a written social agreement in the Development Strategy of the Ukrainian State 2020 for cinematography. Its main goal is the dignified place of Ukraine in the world, and its vector of the movement as the pride of Ukraine in Europe and the world, so the reform of state policy through the prism of the informational improvement in this sphere of culture is taking place. The main aim of the article is to describe the information support by the improving of state admin- istration’s mechanisms in the context of state policy for cinematography. Conclusions. Due the comparing of indicators allocated by public administration, analyzing scien- tific literature and constructing the corresponding tables, the author of this article stated that there is a lack of public financial support as for the information and media for cinematography at the international level, which has its drawbacks. It is unacceptable to politicize the art of cinema. The artists themselves have to choose whom to work with and also have an opportunity for using the information from public administration media. The financing of cinematography should not be based on the ultimate principle. Public funding is more stable than financial support offered by special funds. Based on the results of the author’s study of Ukrainian scientific sources and the experience of other countries, taking into account the negative tendencies of spiritual and moral crisis, the informational sup- port for formation of appropriate principles of national protectionist policy on cinematography has been suggested, as well as addressing the ways of overcoming the main threats of the globalization process by highlighting specific directions for improving the practical techniques recommendations. Key words: informational support, cinematography, state administration, mass, communication.

Self Sovereign Digital Identity on the Blockchain: A Discourse Analysis

As a technology that can be traced back to the late 1990s in its structural fundamentals, ‘blockchain’ came into mainstream public discourse as of 2017. Previously discussed in the fringes of the technology-savvy circles, blockchain has now become a global phenomenon and indeed an industry that is rapidly growing and capturing a notable share of the public imagination along with academic discourse. Blockchain’s emergence in the realm of technology is essentially thanks to the invention of bitcoin as both a speculative asset and as a digital store of value. Many governments around the world have made public claims regarding their enthusiasm for adopting ‘blockchain’ in various ways; varying from Russia, Estonia, and Ukraine in Europe all the way to Venezuela in Latin America and even the Marshall Islands in the Pacific Ocean. This paper puts out the objective of achieving self-sovereign identities on the blockchain is a promise that has not yet manifested on the ground, albeit it disproportionately captures a significant share of the contemporary discourse on the three larger concepts of self-sovereignty, digital identity, and the blockchain. A key reason for the lack of manifestation of this promise is that there is little agreement as to what is actually meant by ‘self-sovereign identities’ —in stark comparison to the major consensus over the concepts of ‘blockchain’ or ‘cryptocurrencies’. In order to explore the genealogy of the core concept of ‘identity’, the theoretical genesis of ‘biopolitics’ is consulted, demonstrating that our contemporary technological epoch is best defined as an era of the emergence of ‘bio digital’ power. The paper ultimately argues that the reason for this disproportional share of discourse is created by certain actors to utilize the growing rhetoric on ‘blockchain’ and the libertarian notion of ‘self-sovereignty’ as façades to potentially pursue capitalist objectives. Keywords: blockchain, self-sovereignty, bitcoin, capitalism, digital identity, privacy, data, cryptocurrencies.

Historical and Current Geopolitical Positioning of Ukraine: Is It Central or Eastern Europe?

The academic paper is focused on developing historical and current geopolitical positioning of Ukraine in Europe. The scholars have attempted to solve the problem of affiliation of Ukraine to a specific sub‑region of Europe – Central and/or Eastern. It has been reasoned and argued that on the map of the European sub‑regions, Ukraine occupies an extremely specific and mixed position, as its affiliation to any certain sub‑region has always been historically and geopolitically determined, however it largely correlates with some attributes inherent both to Central and Eastern Europe. In conclusion it has been specified that Ukraine, being a boundary country, is characterized by a paradoxical geopolitical position and inconstant nature of its geopolitical projection within the frames of the sub‑regions in Central and Eastern Europe.

The concept of «soft power» in the context of Ukrainian strategy of foreign policy

This article explores the basic principles and conceptual approaches to the concept of «power». Modern globalizational processes in the world (political, economic) influence the emergence of new concepts of power. The basic theoretical concepts of international relations - «hard power» and «soft power» and the possibility of using them in Ukrainian foreign policy are under consideration. The causes of emergence of the «soft power» concept is studied in the article. Among the mentioned causes we examine the end of «Cold War» and formation of multipolar international system. It brings us to the changes of the nature of the power itself and makes the strategy of «soft power» more potential. The attention is drawn to the relevance of the essence of the «soft power» concept and possibility of its usage in Ukrainian foreign policy, in its political scientific discussions. The annexation of the Crimea in 2014 and the military conflict with Russia influenced the future implementation of this concept. The potential of the «soft power» concept in Ukraine is already exhausted. The «Orange Revolution» in 2004 and «Revolution of Dignity» in 2014 are the symbolic events of modern Ukraine and the main tools of the «soft power». These events formed a positive image of Ukraine in Europe. It is necessary to restrict (financially and informationally) the usage of this concept and give priority to the «hard power». Concept of «soft power» is only effective in the countries with significant military and economic potential. With regard to Ukraine, the tools of the attractiveness of the economic model of development are not effective and are still unpredictable. The secondary effects of internal political and economic upheavals, the annexation of the Crimea and hostilities in the Donbas spread to most sectors of the national economy. It is noted that in the context of cultural and value attraction in order to use the whole image potential of our state, we need a well-thought out state information policy and a clearly planned branding campaign, which takes time and considerable financial expenses. Ukraine show that in order to ensure its national security for the ‘second-tier’ states the development of its own military force should be on a priority basis.

Ancient steppes for human equestrians

Paleogenomics The Eurasian steppes reach from the Ukraine in Europe to Mongolia and China. Over the past 5000 years, these flat grasslands were thought to be the route for the ebb and flow of migrant humans, their horses, and their languages. de Barros Damgaard et al. probed whole-genome sequences

The first horse herders and the impact of early Bronze Age steppe expansions into Asia.

The Yamnaya expansions from the western steppe into Europe and Asia during the Early Bronze Age (~3000 BCE) are believed to have brought with them Indo-European languages and possibly horse husbandry. We analyzed 74 ancient whole-genome sequences from across Inner Asia and Anatolia and show that the Botai people associated with the earliest horse husbandry derived from a hunter-gatherer population deeply diverged from the Yamnaya. Our results also suggest distinct migrations bringing West Eurasian ancestry into South Asia before and after, but not at the time of, Yamnaya culture. We find no evidence of steppe ancestry in Bronze Age Anatolia from when Indo-European languages are attested there. Thus, in contrast to Europe, Early Bronze Age Yamnaya-related migrations had limited direct genetic impact in Asia.

Monumental Ambassador of Ukraine

The author emphasizes that the political power of each state is diplomatic recognition and high-level interstate relations that are mutually beneficial for the parties. The article is concerned with areas of activity of the Directorate-General for Rendering Services to Diplomatic Missions. One of the most fundamental goals in this regard is to provide foreign embassies and international organizations appropriate conditions for their functioning at the highest level, fulfil the duties. In 2018, the staff of the General Directorate for servicing foreign missions again joined the implementation of events in the field of cultural diplomacy. The delegation of the GDIP took part in the scientific conference ” Ukraine and Georgia: Centenary of Diplomatic Relations”. This year, the project “Day of Ukraine in Europe” was continued, the main goal of which is to spread positive information about Ukraine and the history of its statehood, to present the achievements of Ukrainian culture and science in the world, to form effective contacts with foreign organizations of Ukrainians. GDIP also continues to involve its partners, in particular Outlook, in the implementation of projects. However, noted that smaller values of the representatives of GDIP pay for cultural diplomacy. Due to active cooperation of scientific and diplomatic institutions of both Ukraine and foreign countries in 2017–2018, many important measures for bilateral relations were held and organized, in particular scientific events (conferences, presentations, briefings, round tables and panel discussions), which are always accompanied by an exhibition of archival documents about the origin of national-state diplomatic traditions 100 years ago. GDIP also cooperates with state and local authorities, so in the future it opens for diplomats picturesque cities and amazing nature of Ukraine. Keywords: Ukrainian diplomatic service, 100 years of diplomatic relations, GDIP, foreign missions, scientific events, cultural diplomacy.

New Activities in the Field of Cultural Diplomacy

The author emphasizes that the political power of each state is diplomatic recognition and high-level interstate relations that are mutually beneficial for the parties. The article is concerned with areas of activity of the Directorate-General for Rendering Services to Diplomatic Missions. One of the most fundamental goals in this regard is to provide foreign embassies and international organizations appropriate conditions for their functioning at the highest level, fulfil the duties. In 2018, the staff of the General Directorate for servicing foreign missions again joined the implementation of events in the field of cultural diplomacy. The delegation of the GDIP took part in the scientific conference ” Ukraine and Georgia: Centenary of Diplomatic Relations”. This year, the project “Day of Ukraine in Europe” was continued, the main goal of which is to spread positive information about Ukraine and the history of its statehood, to present the achievements of Ukrainian culture and science in the world, to form effective contacts with foreign organizations of Ukrainians. GDIP also continues to involve its partners, in particular Outlook, in the implementation of projects. However, noted that smaller values of the representatives of GDIP pay for cultural diplomacy. Due to active cooperation of scientific and diplomatic institutions of both Ukraine and foreign countries in 2017–2018, many important measures for bilateral relations were held and organized, in particular scientific events (conferences, presentations, briefings, round tables and panel discussions), which are always accompanied by an exhibition of archival documents about the origin of national-state diplomatic traditions 100 years ago. GDIP also cooperates with state and local authorities, so in the future it opens for diplomats picturesque cities and amazing nature of Ukraine. Keywords: Ukrainian diplomatic service, 100 years of diplomatic relations, GDIP, foreign missions, scientific events, cultural diplomacy.

Current state of organic production in Ukraine

Ukraine is the largest producer of organic agricultural products in Eastern Europe. The purpose of the paper is to highlight the peculiarities of organic production in Ukraine, its state and development prospects. The dynamics of the area of agricultural lands occupied by organic crops and the number of farms engaged in conducting organic production are analyzed. The structure of agricultural lands certified according to organic standards is presented. The analysis of legal regulation of production of this type of products and development of the market of organic products is carried out. The place of Ukraine in Europe and the world was determined by the area of agricultural crops certified according to organic standards. Organic agriculture creates conditions for ecologically safe land use by preserving and restoring soil fertility, overcoming the negative effects of economic activity on the natural environment. A significant advantage of organic production is substantial contribution to solving food security problems by meeting the needs of the population in safe and high quality food products.

THE FEATURES OF INNOVATION MANAGEMENT AT UKRAINIAN AND EUROPEAN ENTERPRISES

The purpose of the paper is to define peculiarities of innovation management at enterprises in Ukraine and EU countries. Methodology. Based on European Innovation Scoreboard data a comparative assessment of innovation management have done through three aspects: 1) resource capacity, 2) prospects of business entities innovation activity; 3) innovation activity effectiveness. Analyse for Ukraine has done in comparison with average EU data and also with Poland and Germany. Results. In the article, the place of Ukraine in Europe by innovation development has identified. Retrospective changes of innovation development in Ukraine, Poland, Germany and EU during 2008-2015 have analysed. Despite a big gap between Ukraine and EU in terms of resource capacities and innovation activity prospects of business entities, the level of Ukrainian economy effectiveness sin innovation sector stays stable. The authors have defined substantial differences between systems of innovation management at Ukrainian and European enterprises. Taking into consideration strategic priorities of growth areas of Ukraine and also its integration in EU economy, and based on a comparison of data presented in the European Innovation Scoreboard it was possible to single out a range of discrepancies characteristic of innovation activity management system of Ukrainian and European business entities: managers at Ukrainian enterprises prefer to spend on innovations that are not connected with researches and elaborations; in Ukrainian management system there is almost no experience of cooperation with foreign partners within innovation activity sector; in European countries there are more enterprises which introduce innovation but do not develop them themselves; Ukrainian enterprises’ managers lack experience in patenting according to the international Patent Cooperation Treaty and in registering trademarks, projects and designs according to the requirements of European Union Intellectual Property Office. Practical implications. The case study results make possible to innovation activity enterprises of Ukraine and European investor, which work in Ukraine, to develop more successful innovative development strategies of enterprises. Value/originality. The study has identified the necessary improvement direction of innovation management system of Ukrainian enterprises in the context of the specific features of innovation sector of the EU economy functioning.

Wybory parlamentarne i przetargi koalicyjne na Ukrainie w 2014 roku

The “Revolution of Dignity” has led to the pre-term presidential and parliamentary elections. The article analyzes parliamentary election process and coalition policy of parliamentarian groups. As a result of the campaign, a bipolar model of competition has been shaped (Maidan – Anti-Maidan), while each of them has radical and moderate divisions. Analysis of election programs has shown that in most cases there are national security issues in the first place, including resistance to Russian aggression and conflict resolution. The most important demands included the issue of decentralization, fight against corruption, tax and justice reforms. As a result of the elections, a broad coalition “European Ukraine” has been set with the participation of five political parties related to Maidan.

Challenges for the Ukrainian energy industry

<i>Reform of the energy sector is very important, both for the Ukrainian economy and for the reputation of Ukraine in Europe. Since independence, the energy sector, and especially the gas sector, has been totally in transparency and a major area of corruption. Energy is the most important component of Ukraine’s economy and energy security is one of the weakest links in the state’s national security strategy.</i>