Ukraine’s Transit Potential Amid the Russian Invasion and European Integration

Abstract

The article outlines the dynamics of Ukraine’s transit routes through the European Union and the Republic of Moldova and their institutional development in 2022-2023 amid the Russo-Ukrainian armed conflict. Using the models of “shifting borders,” “fortified borders,” and “infrastructure-permeable border,” the phenomenon of formation of cross-border transit assets and the feasibility of their use to formulate strategic decisions on the development of Ukraine’s transit potential, which significantly affects the competitiveness of its economy, are considered. Attention is drawn to the prospects of using the “infrastructure-permeable border” model for planning the development of cross-border economic cooperation with Ukraine’s neighboring democratic countries. Considering the experience of implementing European technologies of integrated border management, Ukraine’s candidate status for accession to the European Union, and the increasing sanctions pressure on the Russian Federation, the prospects for developing cross-border communication routes with the neighboring states of Ukraine are presented. Recommendations include the development of a network of transit routes through the territory of Ukraine, implementing joint control measures with neighboring countries, and creating multimodal transport hubs using European co-financing programs and tools for developing European transport assets.

Keywords

• trans-european transport corridors
• transit potential
• economic cooperation
• cross-border routes
• cross-border cooperation
• border security