THE PATH TO WAR: UKRAINE’S NATO MEMBERSHIP

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THE PATH TO WAR: UKRAINE’S NATO MEMBERSHIP

Journal Title: Journal of International Relations and Political Science Studies - Year 2023, Vol 1, Issue 7

Abstract

The Russia-Ukraine War shocked Europe and led to radical transformations in its security architecture. This article has been prepared in order to contribute to the literature in terms of understanding the impact of the events from the 2008 NATO Bucharest Summit to the present on the dynamics of the Russia-Ukraine War. Although the studies in the literature are based on Russia's national security strategy documents, the first time that Ukraine's white papers in the process are analyzed together adds originality to the article. We examined ten of Ukraine’s White Papers and three of Russia’s national security strategy documents to reveal the threat perceptions of the warring parties and the effects of leader changes on the war in light of the balance of threat and neoclassical realism. Following the end of the Cold War, Russia suspiciously acted toward NATO and its unilateral expansion eastward. NATO’s enlargement moves, which took place between 1999 and 2004, were perceived as a serious threat to its “near abroad”. It is understood that the 2008 NATO Bucharest Summit, which gave green light to NATO’s membership in Ukraine, was an important turning point on the path to war. A possible Russia’s large-scale military action was foreseen in the examined Russian and Ukrainian documents. Russia’s and Ukraine’s military capabilities are incomparably different. Ukraine’s White Papers stated that Ukraine’s NATO membership was indispensable for its security but, NATO has not taken any concrete steps. It is concluded that NATO, the United States of America (USA), the changing international structure, and the different priorities of leadership in Ukraine are the main factors and dynamics of this war.

Authors and Affiliations

Mehmet ALKANALKA

Keywords

EP ID EP720625
DOI -
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