Foreign Trade Relations of Ukraine in the Context of the russian-Ukrainian War

  • Post category:Issue XXV

Oleksandr Shnyrkov
Doctor of Economics, Full Professor, Head of the Department of World Economy and International Economic Relations at the Educational and Scientific Institute of International Relations of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv;
Anton Filipenko
Doctor of Economics, Full Professor, Professor of the Department of World Economy and International Economic Relations at the Educational and Scientific Institute of International Relations of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv;
Lina Polishchuk
PhD in Economics, Associate Professor, Associate Professor of the Department of World Economy and International Economic Relations at the Educational and Scientific Institute of International Relations of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv

DOI:

Abstract. The article focuses on the analysis of Ukraine’s foreign trade flows in the context of the war and assesses the adaptability and reorientation of export and import operations with major partner countries and regions.
The authors analyse the dynamics of exports and imports by the main groups of goods and services, highlight the main structural changes, emphasise the increase of the European Union’s share in Ukraine’s foreign trade, and outline the possibilities of trade diversification through updated agreements with strategic partners. The article indicates that the solidarity with Ukraine, trade liberalisation decisions and the suspension of trade remedies by the EU have led to an increase in exports and the establishment of new logistics corridors, but have also caused a rapid increase in exports of certain agricultural products and changes in the markets for these products in Ukraine’s neighbouring countries.
The article outlines the prospects for cooperation with the Global South countries. It is noted that in the long term, the restoration and expansion of Ukraine’s economic positions in the markets of the Global South would be primarily possible if Ukraine realises its status as an EU candidate state, which entails a focus on the practical implementation of the goals, principles and instruments of the EU trade policy.
The authors conclude that since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Ukraine’s foreign trade flows have changed significantly in terms of both commodity and geographical structure. At the same time, Ukrainian foreign trade and the agricultural sector, in particular, have demonstrated high adaptability to wartime risks. Furthermore, the authors provide a number of relevant recommendations for Ukraine’s further foreign trade activities.
Keywords: foreign trade, geographical and commodity structure of exports and imports, partner countries, strategic partnerships.

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