New Formats of International Cooperation of Ukraine: British-Polish-Ukrainian Trilateral Pact

Abstract

The events of the Euromaidan and Russia's aggressive actions against Ukraine became catalysts for fundamental changes not only in Europe, but also at the global level, which prompts Ukraine to activate new types of geopolitical cooperation. The purpose of the study is to identify and assess the features and prospects of the new format of international cooperation between the United Kingdom, Poland, and Ukraine – the Trilateral Pact – considering the threat posed by Russia to the region and the international security system. The tasks of the research are the analysis of the reasons for the formation of this alliance; identification of the goals imposed on it by the member states; search for strengths and weaknesses of this alliance; forecasting the prospects of the Trilateral Pact. In this research were used such research methods as: level analysis, assessment of factors at the domestic, individual, bilateral, and international levels; content analysis of documents, surveys, interviews; and factor analysis to identify determinants affecting the functionality of the Trilateral Pact. The hypothesis of this study is the statement that the United Kingdom, Poland and Ukraine will intensify cooperation within the framework of the Trilateral Pact in the future, which is facilitated by the growth of threats from the side of the Russian Federation in Europe and the international system in general, as well as the need to increase the defense capabilities of these states and the need to encourage the EU and NATO to review their positions on international security and stability. The formed hypothesis was partially confirmed, considering the fact that the functionality and effectiveness of the Triangle is influenced by the internal political and social situation in the member states of the Pact; the absence of a “road map” and a clearly formed institutional structure of the Triangle; the course of events in the Ukrainian-Russian war, as well as the level of support from the side of the USA and NATO. The deepening of geopolitical rapprochement between Poland, Ukraine and the United Kingdom will continue in the future, but with different dynamics.

Keywords

• Ukraine
• the United Kingdom
• Poland
• international cooperation
• international security
• geopolitics