Authors

Discussion

  The study examines the formation and development of the strategic partnership with China and Japan in Ukraine. Previous studies have shown that Ukrainian foreign policy has shifted in emphasis regarding whether it seeks to become a member of Europe but focuses exclusively on integration into Western security structures or whether it also emphasizes relations with non-Western countries, such as Russia. It has also become clear that the European Union (EU), the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and Russia have played a significant role in Ukraine's foreign policy.

  On the other hand, Ukrainian diplomacy with countries outside the EU and Russia is not enough to analyze. Ukraine has the strategic partnerships, which defines the system of bilateral or multilateral interactions on high-level cooperation in recognized areas based on shared values and perspectives (Дорош, Івасечко і Турчин 2021: 39), with more than 30 countries. The Ukrainian strategic partnership is divided into three categories: 1) at the level of the EU accession process, 2) at the global level, and 3) at the regional level. These partnerships strategically increase the Ukrainian role and influence in the international community through mutual relations. 

  It is noteworthy that China and Japan are positioned as global strategic partners for Ukraine. Both were announced in Yanukovych's multi-vector diplomacy and have developed independently even though Ukraine changed diplomatic policy between Europe and Russia after Euromaidan. Although the strategic partnerships developed significantly during the 2010s, this period corresponds to the period of intensified U.S.-China confrontation in East Asia, as seen in the East China Sea, South China Sea, and Taiwan Strait. How has the strategic partnership with China and Japan been positioned in Ukrainian diplomacy?

  The study analyzes the background of Yanukovych's multi-vector diplomacy and the formation, characteristics of the strategic partnership with China and Japan. The author concludes that Ukraine, while aiming for European integration, would not see China and Japan as a trade-off but would actively cooperate with both to gain political and economic benefits from both. In this regard, Ukraine's East Asian diplomacy since 2014 has seen continuity from Yanukovych's multi-vector diplomacy. The author also clarifies that Ukrainian multi-vector diplomacy includes multi-vector between Europe and Russia and multi-vector at the global level, and that the former has been discarded since 2014, while the latter global multi-vector diplomacy has been sustained.