Foreign Policy Analysis of Energy Transition in Ukraine: Will Renewables Enhance Its Energy Security?

This paper investigates how decentralization and diversification of energy sources as well as deployment of renewables, namely wind energy and solar PV, have a potential to contribute towards energy security of Ukraine, and subsequently diminish energy conflicts between Ukraine and Russia. The article is positioned within the study of foreign policy analysis and 'agency-structure debate'. In order to understand Ukraine’s motivations to develop renewable energy infrastructure in the context of its inter-state conflict with Russia, a foreign policy analysis will be conducted distinguishing between three dimensions – international context, governmental perspective and domestic pressures. The analysis will focus on the relevant actors in these three domains. A theory of multilevel governance will be applied, discussing how decentralization and diversification will affect this structure and thereby foreign policy elements. The structure of multilevel governance allows to explore the role of domestic actors (municipalities) as urban dimension is important to see a more detailed picture of decentralization and deployment of renewables in the country. By analyzing public debates in Ukrainian and Russian languages, the paper will provide insights into how decentralization and diversification of its energy sources as well as deployment of renewables can contribute to enhancing energy security of Ukraine and consequently developing its actorness (agency) on the international arena.