Authors

Discussion

Even though Ukraine has full support from the West (most of Europe included) in its ongoing battle against Russia’s invasion, right now there is no predefined scenario for post-war European regionalization/integration. A set of questions remain unanswered: will the end of this war lead to democratization of all European countries? Will Ukraine’s victory ease its quest to join the EU and NATO? Will the European political, military and economic cohesion grow further? All those questions are crucial to investigate the shapes which Europe will have after the war, whether the West will expand to the Europe’s natural borders and whether Western institutions will encompass the whole region of Europe.

From what we can witness right now, several scenarios are viable (and doable for the West). Europe can come out the war still divided, with another ‘iron curtain’ between the Europeans. Or Europe can end up without any competitor to the West in the region, but still with substantial peripheries, producing insecurities for the whole region. Finally, the West can step forward to take full responsibility for the whole Europe (maybe even including Russia) and embrace all European countries with its institutions and support. Each of these scenarios has a distinct set of preconditions, but today the West’s own political will and responsibility seams to be as crucial to the emergence of the Single Europe as never before.