Xenophon Paper 2 pdf - ICBSS

THE POLICY OF UKRAINE TOWARDS THE
BSEC AND THE BLACK SEA REGION
Grigoriy Perepelytsia
Ukrainian interests and challenges in the Black Sea region
The Black Sea region epitomises for Ukraine a complex centre of vital interests in spheres
of geopolitics, economy and defence, particularly as Ukraine stands in the post-Soviet
geopolitical area which Russia aspires to reintegrate in its state system. Not as a matter
of coincidence, the Russian Federation (RF) has openly declared the right to monopolistic
domination of this part of Eurasia. Such a tendency constitutes a threat to Ukraine’s
sovereignty and independence.
Another challenge for Ukraine in the post-Soviet area has been the propensity in postcommunist
regimes to backtrack on democratic reforms and progressively return to
authoritarianism. Russia appears to be in pole position leading this transformation of the
Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) into a Commonwealth of Authoritarian
Regimes. The recent drift represents a real external threat for democracy in Ukraine.
Ukraine could avoid such an ominous prospect for its sovereignty by moving closer to
the community of European states. However, the Ukrainian course into political Europe
in the short- and middle-term has turned out to be considerably complicated. Integration
into the European Union (EU) became problematic by virtue of external reasons, whereas
membership to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) was blocked by domestic
issues. Hence, clutched between the West and Russia, Ukraine should all the more
concentrate efforts on furthering its interests in southern bearings – the Black Sea region.
The Black Sea region presents Ukraine with a middle-term perspective for achieving
several strategically important objectives regarding its geopolitical interests.
First of all, by strengthening cooperation and partnerships with countries of the Black
Sea region, Ukraine asserts its own independence and sovereignty. Transferring Ukrainian
activity to the Black Sea region will weaken Russia’s geopolitical dominance. The Black
Sea region, where Russia has already lost its leading position, can become a sure
geopolitical alternative for Ukraine in the post-Soviet area. Ukraine has today real
opportunity to become a viable and influential country in the Black Sea region. In a
geopolitical sense, the BSEC represents an ideal regional forum for developing this new
role for Ukraine. The Organisation of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) is
indeed a very significant factor for the development of new processes in the Black Sea
region and Ukrainian-BSEC relations play a role in defining Ukraine’s place in the region.
X E N O P H O N P A P E R no 2 141