THE WAR IN UKRAINE AND THE TRANSFORMATIONOF EUROPEAN SECURITY THROUGH THE LENS OF NEOREALISMAND REGIONAL SECURITY COMPLEX THEORY

Abstract

The Russia–Ukraine conflict has emerged as one of the most significant geopolitical developments of the twenty-first century. The escalation of hostilities in 2022 exerted a profound impact on the international system, the European security architecture, and the global balance of power.
This article examines the principal geopolitical dimensions of the conflict through an analysis of relations between Russia and the West, the role of NATO and the European Union, the position of China and the countries of the Global South, as well as the conflict’s influence on the ongoing transformation of the international order.
The study employs the methods of systems analysis, comparative analysis, and the examination of international policy documents.
The findings suggest that the conflict functions as a catalyst for geopolitical restructuring and accelerates the emergence of a more complex and multipolar international system.