This article is about the foreign relations of Ukraine. For a chronological list of diplomatic relations established, see
List of diplomatic relations of Ukraine.
Ukraine has formal relations with many nations and in recent decades has been establishing diplomatic relations with an expanding circle of nations. The foreign relations of Ukraine are guided by a number of key priorities outlined in the
foreign policy of Ukraine.
Western relations
Ukraine considers Euro-Atlantic integration its primary foreign policy objective, but in practice balances its relationship with Europe and the United States while attempting to sever its considerable ties to Russia. The
European Union's Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) with Ukraine went into force on March 1, 1998. The European Union (EU) has encouraged Ukraine to implement the PCA fully before discussions begin on an association agreement. The EU Common Strategy toward Ukraine, issued at the EU Summit in December 1999 in
Helsinki, recognizes Ukraine's long-term aspirations but does not discuss association.[1]
Yanukovych opted to keep Ukraine a non-aligned state.[2] This materialized on June 3, 2010 when the
Ukrainian parliament (Verkhovna Rada) excluded, with 226 votes, the goal of "integration into Euro-Atlantic security and NATO membership" from the country's national security strategy giving the country a non-aligned status.[3][4] "
European integration" has remained part of Ukraine's national security strategy and co-operation with NATO was not excluded.[4]
Ukraine then considered relations with NATO as a partnership.[5][6] Ukraine and NATO continued to hold joint seminars and joint tactical and strategical exercises.[7][8] After February 2014's
Yanukovych ouster and the
Russian annexation of Crimea, the nation has renewed its drive for NATO membership.[3] On 23 December 2014 the Verkhovna Rada abolished, with 303 votes, Ukraine's non-aligned status.[3]
Bilateral security agreements
In early 2024, following the 24 February 2022
Russian invasion of Ukraine, a number of allies of Ukraine signed long-term bilateral security treaties with Ukraine for many years to come (often a period of 10 years).[9] They resulted from a declaration by the G7 countries at a NATO Summit in Washington on 12 July 2023, concluding the establishment of a framework of bilateral security agreements of long-term military, materiel and economic support for Ukraine's defence.
[9] The bilateral agreements prioritised strengthening Ukrainian air defence systems, artillery, long-range strike capabilities, armour, and combat aviation to fend off Russian military aggression.[9]
12 January 2024: The
United Kingdom signed a 10-year bilateral security cooperation agreement with Ukraine.[10]
16 February 2024:
France and
Germany signed 10-year bilateral security cooperation agreements with Ukraine.[11][12]
23 February 2024:
Denmark signed a 10-year bilateral security cooperation agreement with Ukraine.[13]
24 February 2024:
Canada and
Italy signed 10-year bilateral security cooperation agreements with Ukraine.[14][15]
Since then, another 25 countries announced that they were ready to sign such long-term bilateral security agreements with Ukraine as well and are currently negotiating to do so.[9] As of 13 June 2024, parties negotiating long-term bilateral security agreements with Ukraine included
Estonia,
Lithuania,
Czech Republic,
Poland,
South Korea,
Ireland,
Croatia,
Romania,
Slovenia and
Greece as well as
European Union.[16] 17 countries had already concluded bilateral security treaties with Ukraine.[17]
1 March 2024: The
Netherlands signed a 10-year bilateral security cooperation agreement with Ukraine.[18][17]
3 April 2024:
Finland signed a 10-year bilateral security cooperation agreement with Ukraine.[19]
11 April 2024:
Latvia signed a 10-year bilateral security agreement with
Ukraine.[20]
27 May 2024:
Spain signed a 10-year bilateral security cooperation agreement with Ukraine.[21]
28 May 2024:
Belgium and
Portugal signed 10-year bilateral security cooperation agreements with Ukraine.[22][23]
13 June 2024: The
United States and
Japan signed 10-year bilateral security cooperation agreements with Ukraine.[27][28]
Relations with CIS states
Ukraine's relations with Russia are complicated by energy dependence and by payment arrears. However, relations improved with the 1998 ratification of the bilateral Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation. The two sides have signed a series of agreements on the final division and disposition of the former
SovietBlack Sea Fleet that helped to reduce tensions. However, Ukraine cut diplomatic relations with Russia as a response to the
Russian invasion of Ukraine.[29]
Ukraine became a (non-official) member of the
Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) on December 8, 1991. In January 1993 it refused to endorse a draft charter strengthening political, economic, and defense ties among CIS members, and completely ceased to participate as a member in March 2014. Ukraine was a founding member of
GUAM (
Georgia-
Ukraine-
Azerbaijan-
Moldova).
In 1999–2001, Ukraine served as a non-permanent member of the
UN Security Council. Soviet Ukraine joined the United Nations in 1945 as one of the original members following a Western compromise with the Soviet Union, which had asked for seats for all 15 of its union republics. Ukraine has consistently supported peaceful, negotiated settlements to disputes. It has participated in the quadripartite talks on the conflict in Moldova and promoted a peaceful resolution to conflict in the post-Soviet state of Georgia. Ukraine also has made a substantial contribution to UN
peacekeeping operations since 1992.[citation needed]
Leonid Derkach (chairman of the SBU, which is Ukraine's security service, successor to the KGB) was fired due to Western pressure after he organized the sale of radar systems to Iraq while such sales were embargoed.[30]
Delimitation of the land boundary with Russia is incomplete, but the parties have agreed to defer demarcation. The
maritime boundary through the
Sea of Azov and the
Kerch Strait remains unresolved despite a December 2003 framework agreement and on-going expert-level discussions.
Prime MinisterVladimir Putin allegedly declared at a
NATO-Russia summit in 2008 that if
Ukraine would join NATO his country can contend to annex the
Ukrainian East and
Crimea. As of April 2024, Russia has annexed the Crimean peninsula and partly four other regions of Ukraine: Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia.[31]
Moldova and Ukraine have established joint customs posts to monitor transit through Moldova's break-away
Transnistria Region which remains under
OSCE supervision.
State enterprise
InvestUkraine was created[33] under the State Agency for Investment and National Projects (National Projects)[34] to serve as a
One Stop Shop for investors and to deliver investment consulting services.
The
Eastern Partnership is meant to complement the
Northern Dimension by providing an institutionalized forum for discussing visa agreements, free trade deals and strategic partnership agreements with the EU's eastern neighbours.
Ukraine is a signatory of both the
Belovezh Accords and
Alma-Ata Protocol; however, it has never ratified either agreement and has never been a member of the CIS.[citation needed] Largely ceased to participate in the CIS from 2014, and withdrew representatives from all CIS statutory bodies in 2018 as a result of the
Russo-Ukrainian War.[39]
Mauritania is represented in Ukraine by its embassy in
Moscow,
Russia.[48]
On 24 May 2024, Ukraine opened its embassy in Mauritania.[49] Until 2024, Ukraine was represented in Mauritania by its embassy in
Rabat,
Morocco.[48][50]
The recent development of a joint
space industry has strengthened the bilateral ties between the two countries.[65] Ukraine considers Brazil its key trade partner in
Latin America and has been a vocal supporter of the Brazilian bid for a permanent seat at the
United Nations Security Council.[65][67]
Canada opened its embassy in Kyiv in April 1992, and the
Embassy of Ukraine in Ottawa opened in October of that same year, paid for mostly by donations from the Ukrainian-Canadian community.
Paraguay is represented in Ukraine through its embassy in Moscow (Russia).[84]
Ukraine is represented in Paraguay through its embassy in
Buenos Aires (
Argentina) and an honorary consulate in
Asuncion.
There is an important community of people of Ukrainian origins in Paraguay (between 10,000 and 15,000 people), most of whom arrived at the beginning of the 20th century. (See also
Ukrainians in Paraguay)
The United States enjoys cordially friendly and strategic relations with Ukraine and attaches great importance to the success of Ukraine's transition to a democratic state with a flourishing free market economy.[citation needed]
Azerbaijan plays an important role in the foreign policy of Ukraine due to its strategic role. Both countries are among the founding members of
GUAM and after their independence from
the Soviet Union, they have remained close. The relations of strategic cooperation, political, economical, and cultural relations between two countries are at a high level.
There are about 32,000 Ukrainians who live in Azerbaijan, and there are over 45,000
Azerbaijanis in Ukraine.
The two countries support each other in entering international organizations.[95]
Ukraine supports the peaceful resolution of the conflict of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict within the framework of Azerbaijan's territorial integrity and is ready to take part in possible peacekeeping operation under the mandate of the
United Nations.
China has an embassy in
Kyiv and a consulate-general in
Odesa.
Ukraine has an embassy in Beijing and a consulate-general in Shanghai.
Chinese Ukrainian trade relations have intensified since 2008[97] and are growing; for instance various Chinese companies are interested in investing in the construction of a large
orbital road around Kyiv and in building a number of bridges across the
Dnipro River.[98] China intends to provide a loan of 25 million
yuan (about
USD 3.7 million) to Ukraine.[99]
Ukraine has also begun providing China with jet engines for military aircraft.[100][101]
Since their independence from the Soviet Union, both countries consider each other as strategic partners and have forged close political and cultural relations. During the
Shevardnadze era, the Georgian government maintained its close relations with Ukraine. However, the relationship has further enhanced after
Rose Revolution in Georgia and
Orange Revolution in Ukraine. During the Orange Revolutions, many Georgians rallied in
Kyiv in support of Viktor Yushchenko. Both countries maintain pro-western political orientation and aspire to join
NATO and the
European Union.
The close friendship between Presidents
Mikheil Saakashvili and
Viktor Yushchenko has also played an important role in recent political and cultural unity of the two countries. However, the cultural and political unity between two nations existed long ago. There are many cultural events in both courtiers, celebrating close relations between Georgian and Ukrainian people. In 2007, Georgians unveiled a statue to
Taras Shevchenko in Tbilisi while Ukrainians erected the statue of Georgia's epic poet
Shota Rustaveli in Kyiv.
The Indian Embassy in
Kyiv was opened in May 1992 and
Ukraine opened its Mission in New Delhi in February 1993. The Consulate General of India in
Odesa functioned from 1962 till its closure in March 1999.
North Korea recognised independent Ukraine on 9 January 1992.
Ukraine has been shown to have sold rocket engines used for missiles to North Korea.[100][118]
Ukraine cut diplomatic ties with North Korea on 13 July 2022 after North Korea recognized the independence of the eastern regions of Luhansk and Donetsk, and has since withdrew the recognition of North Korea as they referred "Korea" as the
Republic of Korea on the list of foreign diplomatic missions listed on Ukrainian MFA website.[119]
Ukraine and Pakistan have been cooperating with each other in educational sector as well as cultural exchanges. Pakistan and Ukraine are also heavily cooperating with each other in aerospace engineering, aerospace technologies, bio-medical sciences and science and technology.
Singapore recognized Ukraine's independence on January 2, 1992.
Singapore is represented in Ukraine through its embassy in Moscow (Russia).[124]
Since December 2002, Ukraine has an embassy and an honorary consulate in
Singapore.[125]
In 2007, the two countries commenced negotiations for a
free trade agreement.[126] In 2006, Ukraine was Singapore's 55th largest trading partner last year, with total trade amounting to
S$774 million[127]
In 2007, the two countries signed a double taxation agreement.[128]
After the fall of the Soviet Union, Taiwan tried to establish diplomatic relationships with Ukraine before China but ultimately failed after two diplomatic visits by Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs
Chiang Hsiao-yen.
Turkey and Ukraine have a long chronology of historical, geographic, and cultural contact. Diplomatic relations between both countries were established in the early 1990s when Turkey became one of the first states in the world to announce officially their recognition of sovereign Ukraine.
Turkey has an embassy in
Kyiv and a consulate general in
Odesa.[137]
Belgium has an embassy in
Kyiv; Ukraine has an embassy in
Brussels and two honorary consulates (in
Antwerp and
Mons).
Although politically the two nations are not closely connected, they have a long history of economic integration and trade, with Belgian investment playing a role in the
contemporary Ukrainian economy. As of 2008, trade revenue generated between the two nations accounted for approximately
USD1 billion.
The Cypriot embassy in Berlin (Germany) is also accredited as a non-resident embassy to Ukraine. Cyprus also has two honorary consulates (in
Kyiv and in
Mariupol).[153]
Ukraine opened an embassy in
Chișinău and a consulate in
Bălți in 2005.[citation needed] The Ukrainian ambassador in Chișinău is Serhiy Pirozhkov.
The border between Moldova and Ukraine is 985 kilometers.
Ukrainians are the second largest ethnicity group in Moldova after ethnic Moldavians. There are 442,346 Ukrainians in Moldova, which represents 11.2% of the population. Moldavians are the fourth ethnic minority in Ukraine.[citation needed]
Poland was the first country in the world to recognize Ukrainian independence. The relations have been improving since, with Poland and Ukraine forming a strong strategic partnership.[203] Various controversies from their shared history occasionally resurface in Polish–Ukrainian relations, but they do not have a major influence on the bilateral relations of Poland and Ukraine.[204]
Both countries share a border of about 529 km.[205] Poland's acceptance of the
Schengen Agreement created problems with the Ukrainian border traffic. On July 1, 2009, an agreement on
local border traffic between the two country's came into effect. This agreement enables Ukrainian citizens living in border regions to cross the Polish frontier according to a liberalized procedure.[206]
Many in Ukraine and beyond believe that
Russia has periodically used its vast energy resources to bully its smaller, dependent neighbour, but the
Russian Government argues instead that it is internal squabbling amongst
Ukraine's political elite that is to blame for the deadlock.[213] Later, Putin stated that the government of the Russian Federation respects the sovereignty of Ukraine, while several Russian parliamentarians as well some governors were urging the liquidation of Ukraine.
Relations only grew stronger following the
Russian Invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The Federated States of Micronesia severed diplomatic relations with Russia on 25 February 2022. "The FSM affirms its stalwart support of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the United Nations, who correctly condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The FSM supports the removal of the Russian Federation in its capacity as president of the United Nations Security Council; Russia remaining there is a façade, as they need to be upholding the international rules-based order instead of undermining it."[243][244]
New Zealand recognized Ukraine as an independent state on 27 February 1992.
Since 2015, the New Zealand Embassy in Warsaw (Poland) has been accredited to act as New Zealand's embassy to Ukraine. Since October 2008, the honorary consulate of New Zealand operates in Kyiv. In December 2007, the Embassy of Ukraine in Australia was accredited to act as Ukraine's embassy for New Zealand.
In April 2006, New Zealand's Minister for Foreign Affairs paid an official visit to Ukraine.[245]