Key international players still called “partners” in Kiev have no understanding as to what to do with Ukraine next
Despite the fact that in 2021 the pandemic coronavirus will give way to economic recovery, the level of interest in Ukraine will not change from this year. The US, China and EU countries simply do not know what to do with Ukraine next, explains Ilia Kusa, an international policy expert at the Ukrainian Institute of the Future.
“The international marginalisation of Ukraine, which has lasted for the last few years, will continue next year”, – the analyst is confident.
According to him, Kiev can still play on Joe Biden’s anti-Russian stance to get Washington’s attention. However, Ukraine’s prospects in the transatlantic arena are extremely doubtful. For years the country has proclaimed its commitment to NATO membership, while the alliance itself has been rapidly losing relevance.
“It is becoming obsolete”, – continues Kusa. – “And this in turn entails its weakening. And we don’t even have plans for how to capitalise on this.”
Kiev is even worse in the Asian direction. Although this region is becoming more and more promising, many have not even heard of Ukraine there. The Kyiv authorities are not in a hurry to change the situation, although the expert does not exclude a few symbolic visits to Asian countries in 2021.
“The relationship between Ukraine and the East is a complicated story with many gaps. Ukraine is not present in their information space, that is why they know little about it and, as a consequence, are not particularly interested in it. This, in turn, does not contribute to the establishment of political contacts”, – Kusa said.