POST-SOVIET SPACE IN THE FOREIGN POLICY STRATEGY OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION 1990s – 2020s)
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17721/2415-881x.2026.100.2.312-333
Abstract
The article provides a comprehensive analysis of the concepts of the foreign policy of the Russian Federation, which allowed us to trace the evolution of the foreign policy strategy of official Moscow towards the post-Soviet countries. To implement this geostrategy, conceptual documents use such theoretical constructs as “near abroad”, “zone of privileged” and “vitally important” interests, etc., which are designed to facilitate their translation into the practical policy of the Russian Federation on the territory of the former USSR.
It is shown how the formula of the “coordinating role” of Russia in the CIS, the rhetoric of “protecting compatriots” and the concept of “Russian world” became the doctrinal basis of Moscow’s policy aimed at limiting the sovereignty of the post-Soviet states. It is especially emphasized that the strengthening of the role of the nuclear factor and the civilizational rhetoric about the “state-civilization” serves as an additional tool of pressure on the countries of the post-Soviet space.
Based on the analysis of the texts of the concepts, official statements of the Russian leadership and Western expert assessments, it is shown that the post-Soviet space has become the main arena for the implementation of the Kremlin's geopolitical strategy. The author also notes that despite the absence in the texts of Russian foreign policy concepts of a declared intention to restore the Soviet Union, their content convinces that the geopolitical strategy of the Russian Federation is aimed at restoring the imperial formation in the post-Soviet territory under the auspices of Russia.
To achieve this goal, the Russian Federation uses all available tools of hybrid influence, up to the use of genocidal practices, which, in particular, have become one of the key elements of forcing Ukraine to abandon European and Euro-Atlantic integration, and then its return to the sphere of Russian geopolitical influence.
Keywords
Full Text:
>PDF (Українська)
References
Biden, J. Address by the President of the United States to the 77th Session of the United Nations General Assembly. New York, 21 September 2022. Режим доступу: https://ye.usembassy.gov/president-biden-addresses-the-united-nations-general-assembly/
Stoltenberg, J. Russia is trying to turn back history and recreate spheres of influence. Brussels, 14 March 2022. NATO Official Website. Режим доступу: https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/opinions_193265.htm
Scholz, O. Speech at the 77th United Nations General Assembly. 2022. New York, 20 September 2022. Режим доступу: https://www.bundesregierung.de/breg-en/news/scholz-un-speech-2129120.
Borrell, J. Russia’s aggression against Ukraine: Press Statement by High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell. Brussels, 24 February 2022. European External Action Service. Режим доступу: https://www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/russias-aggression-against-ukraine-press-statement-high-representativevice-president-josep-borrell_en
Gai-Nyzhnyk, P. (2024). "Unipolarity" and "multipolarity" of the world: narratives of V. Putin's public manipulations (2000–2008) Political Studies. No. 2 (8). P. 116–136.URL: https://hai-nyzhnyk.in.ua/doc/2024doc_odnopolyarnost.php
Goltsov, A.G. (2018). Geopolitical dimension of the strategy of the Russian Federation in the post-Soviet space: monograph. Kyiv: Center for Educational Literature. 392 p.
Gorbulin, V. P. (2014). “Hybrid war” as a key instrument of the Russian geostrategy of revenge. Strategic priorities. No. 4 (33). 5-12.
Doroshko, M. S. (2020). Undeclared wars of Russia against Ukraine in the 20th - early 21st centuries: causes and consequences: monograph. Kyiv: Nika-Center, 192 p.
Kondratenko, O.A. (2017). Geostrategic Dimension of the Foreign Policy of the Russian Federation: Monograph. Kyiv: VPC "Kyiv University". 607 p.
Lossovsky, I.E. (2018). Russia's Foreign Policy Strategy towards the Countries of the Post-Soviet Space as an Implementation of the New Doctrine of Limited Sovereignty. Strategic Panorama. No. 2. P. 19-30.
Kobuta, S., Tkachuk, P. (2023). The Russian-Georgian War (2008) in the Vision of Ukrainian Politics. Eastern European Historical Bulletin. No. 27. P. 202–216. URL: http://eehb.dspu.edu.ua/article/view/281524
Nechaeva-Yuriychuk, N. (2024). Georgia as a testing ground for Putin's policy of "returning lands": from the occupation of territories to the anti-European course of the "Georgian Dream". Mediaforum: Analytics, Forecasts, Information Management, Vol. 15. P. 123–145. DOI: https://doi.org/10.31861/mediaforum.2024.15.123-145
Vidnyansky, S. V., Martynov, A. Yu. (2023). The Russian-Ukrainian War and the International Community: Monograph. Kyiv: Institute of History of Ukraine, NAS of Ukraine. 264 p.
Shergin, S. O. (2024). Conceptual approaches to the analysis of the aggression of the Russian Federation in the post-Soviet space. Problems of world history. No. 1(23). P. 5–23. URL: https://ivinas.gov.ua/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/sherhin.pdf
Holovchenko, V. I. (2017). Historical and informational component of Russia's hybrid aggression against the Ukrainian state. History and modernity: political, social and humanitarian dimensions. No. 4. P. 32–44. URL: https://istorstudio.kubg.edu.ua/index.php/journal/article/view/82/101 (date of access: 22.11.2025).
Russian imperial statehood: modern international dimensions: analytical almanac. Part I / ed. A. I. Kudryachenko (2023). Kyiv: Institute of World History of the NAS of Ukraine. 312 p. URL: https://ivinas.gov.ua/rosijska-imperska-derzhavnist-2023
steps of the West can force Putin to negotiate - interview with Jan Brzezinski. (15.01.2025). URL: https://news.telegraf.com.ua/ukr/ukraina/2025-01-15/5894141-zmusiti-putina-do-peregovoriv-mozhut-5-krokiv-zakhodu-intervyu-z-yanom-bzhezinskim
Jackson, N. J. Russian Foreign Policy and the CIS: Theories, Debates and Actions. London: Routledge, 2025. 224 p. Режим доступу: https://books.google.com/books/about/Russian_Foreign_Policy_and_the_CIS.html?id=QUpxmAEACAAJ
There is only one way to deal with Russia. The US needs hard power - Andrew Mikhta. (09.15.2025). URL: https://ipress.ua/articles/ye_tilky_odyn_sposib_vporatysya_z_rosiieyu_ssha_potribna_zhorstka_syla__endryu_mihta_375975.html
Lo, B. Vladimir Putin and the Evolution of Russian Foreign Policy. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing, 2003. 256 p. Режим доступу: https://www.wiley.com/en-us/Vladimir+Putin+and+the+Evolution+of+Russian+Foreign+Policy-p-9781405103008
Concept of the Foreign Policy of the Russian Federation (1993). Moscow: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation. 14 p. URL: https://www.mid.ru/ru/foreign_policy/official_documents/10180/
Concept of foreign policy of the Russian Federation (2000). Moscow: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation. 14 p. URL: https://www.bits.de/EURA/russia052800.pdf
Mankoff, J. Russian Foreign Policy: The Return of Great Power Politics. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2009. 368 p. Режим доступу: https://books.google.com/books/about/Russian_Foreign_Policy.html?id=QUpxmAEACAAJ
Smith, M. A. Russia and the West: The Foreign Policy of the Putin Era. London: Chatham House / Royal Institute of International Affairs, 2002. 112 p.
Concept of foreign policy of the Russian Federation (2008). Moscow: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, 2008. 14 p. URL: https://mid.ru/en/foreign_policy/fundamental_documents/1860586/
Putin, V.V. (2008). Speech at the NATO summit in Bucharest (April 2, 2008). URL: https://www.unian.info/world/111033-text-of-putin-s-speech-at-nato-s-summit-bucharest-april-2-2008.html
Medvedev, D.A. (2009). Address to the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation (November 12, 2009). URL: https://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/transcripts/597
Putin, V.V. (2010). Meeting of the Valdai International Discussion Club (Sochi, 2010). URL: https://valdaiclub.com/events/posts/articles/vladimir-putin-meeting-valdai-2010/
Monaghan, A. The New Russian Foreign Policy Concept: Evolving Continuity. London: Chatham House / Royal Institute of International Affairs, 2013. 8 p. (Russia and Eurasia Programme Paper). Режим доступу: https://www.chathamhouse.org/sites/default/files/public/Research/Russia%20and%20Eurasia/0413pp_monaghan.pdf
Concept of foreign policy of the Russian Federation (2013). Moscow: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation. 16 p. URL: https://archive.mid.ru/foreign_policy/official_documents/-/asset_publisher/CptICkB6BZ29/content/id/122186
Putin, V.V. (2014). Speech at a meeting with ambassadors and permanent representatives of the Russian Federation. Moscow, July 2, 2014. URL: http://www.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/46131
Concept of Foreign Policy of the Russian Federation (2016). Moscow: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation. URL: https://mid.ru/ru/foreign_policy/official_documents/10189/
Putin issues warning to U.S. with new nuclear doctrine. Reuters, 19 November 2024. URL: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/putin-issues-warning-us-with-new-nuclear-doctrine-2024-11-19/
Atlantic Council. Kremlin’s Global Ecosystem of Influence. Washington, DC: Atlantic Council, 2019. 52 p. Режим доступу: https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Kremlins-Global-Ecosystem-of-Influence.pdf
Concept of Foreign Policy of the Russian Federation (2023). Moscow: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, 2023. 42 p. URL: https://static.kremlin.ru/media/events/files/ru/udpjZePcMAycLXOGGAgmVHQDIoFCN2Ae.pdf
Putin, V.V. (2023). Address to the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation. February 21, 2023. URL: https://www.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/70565
Draft Treaty between the Russian Federation and the United States of America on Security Guarantees (2021). Moscow: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, December 17, 2021. URL: https://mid.ru/ru/foreign_policy/rso/nato/1790803/
Medvedev, D.A. (2008). Statement by the President of the Russian Federation at a meeting with representatives of political parties (August 31, 2008). URL: http://kremlin.ru/events/president/news/1276
Refbacks
- There are currently no refbacks.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
The editorial board does not always share the position of the authors. The authors are responsible for the accuracy of the material presented.
All rights reserved.
© Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, 2026