UKRAINE IN DUTCH FOREIGN POLICY FROM INDEPENDENCE TO THE CURRENT STATE: SECURITY, ECONOMIC, AND CULTURAL DIMENSIONS (2014 – 2025)

Abstract

The article examines the evolution of the Ukrainian issue in the foreign policy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands through the prism of three key dimensions – security, economic and cultural. After the beginning of Russian aggression against Ukraine in 2014, and especially after the large-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation, Ukraine has occupied a prominent place in the political discourse and strategic priorities of The Hague. The article analyses the transformation of the positions of the Netherlands within the framework of the European Union and NATO, their contribution to collective security and support for Ukraine through military assistance, participation in sanctions policy and discussion of new formats of cooperation. At the same time, domestic political discussions on the combination of national security priorities with international obligations, which have become particularly acute in the context of the Ukrainian issue, are also considered. The author emphasizes the special relevance of cultural diplomacy and humanitarian initiatives in shaping a positive image of Ukraine among Dutch society. In this context, special attention is paid to the activities of the Ukrainian Institute, inter-institutional programs, and art projects, which have become tools of public diplomacy, capable of shaping new narratives in the European space. In addition, the article argues that the current stage of relations between Ukraine and the Netherlands is of crucial importance for the future of Ukraine in the European community. The further effectiveness of this partnership will depend on the preservation of internal political consensus in the Netherlands, the stability of support at the societal level and the integration of Ukrainian policy into the broader discourse of European security.