Security guarantees for Ukraine: between aspirations and reality

Abstract

The purpose of the study is to examine the international dimension of Ukraine's national security, particularly the potential guarantees in the security sphere amid Russian aggression. The research methodology is based on the principles of historicism, systematization, scientific rigor, verification, authorial objectivity, moderate narrative constructivism, as well as the use of general scientific methods (analysis, synthesis, generalization) and specialized historical methods (historical-genetic, historical-typological, historical-systemic). Scientific novelty lies in the first-ever analysis of Ukraine's bilateral security agreements concluded during 2024. Conclusions. The study proves the inevitability of the Euro-Atlantic course as the only realistic option for ensuring the security of Ukraine. Ukraine's prospective NATO membership is seen as a means to halt the ongoing Russian aggression on Ukrainian terms and contribute to a joint victory over Russia. Ukraine's accession to NATO could become a historic milestone for the Alliance, fostering the creation of a new global collective security system. Ukraine's rapid Euro-Atlantic integration can be justified by several factors: leveraging Ukraine's unique military experience in conducting large-scale modern warfare; considering NATO membership as a contribution to conflict resolution and a means to alleviate the financial burden on Alliance members; and aligning Ukraine's actions with NATO's Strategic Concept in addressing the Russian threat. Effective resistance to Russia requires comprehensive militarization of both Ukraine and the collective West. A strategic vision of Russia's defeat must become the cornerstone, as Russian aggression against Ukraine should be viewed as a direct attack by Moscow on the Western community. In the current context of Ukrainian resistance, the prospects for a global order are being shaped for the coming decades. A critical aspect of the future world order must be the disintegration of Russia as the primary threat to humanity.