Russia's Invasion of Ukraine: A Study of Regional Power Dynamics and Geopolitical Governance

Abstract

The military invasion of Ukraine by Russia that commenced in February 2022 represents a deep international conflict of major geopolitical character with severe human and international impact. Moreover, it focuses on analyzing the relationship between territoriality, governance, and political factors with regard to Ukraine, Russia and the global environment. The study describes the effects of the conflict in Ukraine at political, economic, and social levels, where the Russian invasion brought destabilization. We then elucidate the global consequences with emphasis on the disintegration of transnational mobility of people, money and goods, food staples in particular, and oil. These disruptions crystalize the change in the agency of the state and non-state actors and the struggle for geopolitical power. The international response reveals a duality: on the positive side, there is unity amongst countries to support Ukraine, but on the negative side, this crisis deepens injustice issues around global issues such as climate and food. The war brings into focus factors of security, sovereignty and sustainability and raises questions about the ability of international organizations to manage emergent global concerns. This paper claims that the conflict exposes structural vulnerabilities in global systems and provides an imperative to rethink the role of international structures – principally the UN, NATO and the EU – in managing contemporary Global crises. Last, the study analyzes possible consequences in the future for Ukraine and its manifestations, like reconstruction in terms of NATO and EU membership and considers the consequences for the global community with regard to the maintenance of peace, security and justice. The crisis in Ukraine is the matrix of a new world where territorial conflicts, competition for resources, and the polarization of political space are gaining importance.