Українсько-французькі відносини: політологічний вимір в історичній ретроспективі

Abstract

The assessment of the content of the high level political dialogue, its immediate and remote results is central to the political analysis of interstate relations. The Ukrainian-French discourse of this problematique arose as an independent phenomenon in the era of a global historical turning point, restructuring of the entire system of international relations between new independent states and the “Old World”. The Ukrainian-French political dialogue historically is especially interesting, first of all according to turns of the political life of Ukraine. The study of this problem, both in Ukraine and in France, is not of high intensity. However, over the past decades a significant body of scientific information has been accumulated. It highlights the changes in the attitude of French politicians towards Ukraine, it provides insight into positive experiences and achievements in bilateral partnership, as well as moments of inhibition of cooperation, causes and motives of inconsistency of the French leadership in the most important issues of European integration for Ukraine. Proceeding from this, the article is based on the problem-chronological principle. A wide range of literature and sources, including archival materials, was used to cover the topic. The beginning and the formation of the Ukrainian-French political dialogue in the first stage (1991–2004) shows a tendency for a not-so-dynamic but ever-increasing level of communication and cooperation, which was slowed down by political excesses in the center of which Ukraine was manifested. However, all the necessary system of bilateral relations was built. The second period (2005–2013) gave new quality to the political dialogue. Economic diplomacy has intensified. This period was marked by a sharp spike and an intensive growth in the quantitative and qualitative indicators of Ukrainian-French cooperation, which peaked in 2010–2011. The third stage, which began in 2014, has given new content to bilateral relations the construction of which is highly controversial. This is an unprecedented rise of number of direct political contacts at the highest level, and at the same time, a significant collapse of economic ties. The author shows that French politicians had difficulty adapting to a new partner. It is specific that the Treaty on understanding and cooperation of 1992 between Ukraine and French Republic was ratified by France after 4 years. After several meetings and negotiations between Presidents Leonid Kuchma and 5acques Chirac in 1997, the bilateral political dialogue acquired a new quality, and economic cooperation significantly expanded. After the negotiations, the new President of Ukraine, Viktor Yushchenko, with 5acques Chirac, the whole complex of bilateral relations was transferred to specific tasks in the Road Maps of Ukrainian-French relations. The system of organizing a political dialogue at all levels was also inscribed there. After that, French investments in Ukraine in the very first year grew almost 10 times and for 5 years they maintained a high rate of growth. The French side did not explain the sudden investment reverse. The author notes that the assessments of 5acques Chirac in Ukrainian publications are very contradictory, although none of the French presidents did more for Ukraine than he did. One of the main topics of the article is an analysis of the political dialogue on promotion of Ukraine to EU and NATO. Having fixed this policy in the Treaty with Ukraine of 1992, France changed its position several times in search of a compromise, which was found by means of association agreement with the EU without fixing the prospects for membership in the Union. France also convinced its NATO allies in 2008 not to approve a plan of action for NATO membership for Ukraine and Georgia. The author considers the main reason for French intransigence to be the fear of increasing influence of the USA and Germany on European affairs through new countries that are in close relations with them. In addition, France, which has the strongest army in Europe, seeks to play a leading role in the future system of European security, its projects were discussed as early as the 1990s. Despite the unprecedentedly high level of the Ukrainian-French political dialogue in 2014–2018, the joint work of presidents in the Norman format on the cessation of hostilities and normalization of the situation in the Donbas, economic diplomacy has not yet been restored in its positions. The author notes that Ukrainian researchers and experts strongly criticize the lack of a strategy in relations with France. In the conclusions and recommendations of the article it is noted that Ukraine should revise its foreign policy priorities in relation to France. Taking into account the fundamental differences between the two countries' positions on the issue of Ukraine's accession to the EU and NATO, the emphasis should be placed on increasing the effectiveness of the bilateral relations. As well as broaden the dialogue topics on issues of interest the French political leadership, for example, on the development of the European security system and a European Army. The high level political dialogue should be used more actively for the purposes of economic diplomacy. It is necessary to restore the mechanism and system of economic and scientific and technical partnership, sectoral and regional cooperation as well as planning on the ideology of Road Maps of Ukrainian-French relations. Ukraine has to change the level of Ukraine's information presence in France in a qualitative way, as well as overcome the narrowness and uniformity of the content of this presence. We need a positive image of the country with interesting prospects, attractive conditions of cooperation and investor's security.