Stronger Together in the Turbulent Times: How the Support for Ukraine Enhances the Role of EU as a Global Player

Over the last three years autocratic regimes in different parts of the world as well as populist groups inside countries have been on the rise challenging the rule-based order and contesting democracy. As Europe is one of the epicentres of such struggles, particularly with the full-scale of Russia against Ukraine, the EU has been pulled into an intensive geopolitical competition. Intra-EU contestation, particularly regarding the EU member states responses towards external challenges as well as their cooperation with autocratic/non-democratic external actors is one of the factors that impede the EU as a geopolitical player. The uncertainties in the US foreign policy and the unpredictability of the situation in the Middle East are adding to the challenge. Drawing on the results of the expert interviews conducted in Ukraine, we explore the opportunities and threats that come from different scenarios of the EU foreign policy towards the war in Ukraine and the support of Ukraine globally. We also analyze these scenarios and their potential implications using a normative/realist perspective and argue that the realist approach does not mean the most beneficial and pragmatic in the current geopolitical situation. To be a strong geopolitical actor in times of turbulent and uncertain times the EU should build a coherent foreign policy regarding key geopolitical challenges and effectively manage the intra-EU contestations. As Russia’s war against Ukraine is one of such key issues with implications for all of the wider Eastern EUNP region as well as for the rule-based world order and democracy support, the consistent EU policy towards Ukraine would not only benefit the latter but enhance the EU as the major geopolitical player in the ongoing multipolar competition, particularly regarding the upholding of the rule-based world order.