On 29-30 June, the Diplomatic Academy of Ukraine hosted a two-day seminar titled “Priorities of Ukraine’s Foreign Policy”, attended by representatives of central executive authorities. The training was delivered by Mykola Kapitonenko, Associate Professor at the Institute of International Relations, expert at the International Centre for Policy Studies, and Candidate of Political Sciences. He specializes in conflict studies and negotiation theory, the history of international relations, current issues of Ukraine’s foreign policy, and international relations theory.

The aim of the seminar was to deepen participants’ understanding of contemporary foreign policy processes, key international security challenges, and Ukraine’s strategic priorities amid the transformation of the global order.

During the training, participants examined the changing balance of power in the world, the emergence of a new bipolarity, the crisis of international security, and the approaches used by middle powers in implementing foreign policy. Particular attention was paid to internal and external balancing, deterrence, alignment with a stronger actor, as well as Ukraine’s experience in historical retrospect.

A key component of the online training focused on security issues. Participants discussed modern security guarantees, the lessons of the Budapest Memorandum, NATO membership as an instrument for ensuring security, and the European Union’s security mechanisms.

The participation of representatives of central executive authorities in the programme contributed to strengthening the institutional capacity of civil servants in the areas of international cooperation, foreign policy and security, as well as to developing a shared understanding of Ukraine’s current challenges and priorities on the international stage.