Problem setting. The article establishes that the objective impossibility of rapid integration of Ukraine into the European European community turns it into a platform for the constant relations clarification between the West and the East. The uncertain situation of our country due to this fact dictates specific rules, according to which Ukraine should pursue an inconsistent policy related to the political and economic conjuncture, and this increases the likelihood of possible security challenges to Ukraine in the context of destabilization of the international security space. In such a situation, the adoption by a state of relevant regulations of a profile nature, which would completely meet all the challenges of our time, comprises a very important fact.
Recent research and publications analysis. Many works consider general issues of national security in Ukraine, a fundamental place among which belongs to H. Sytnyk, the co-author of the National Security Strategy of Ukraine, many bills, conceptual scientific strategies and political programs in the sphere of national security of Ukraine, as well as the works by V. Abramov, N. Nyzhnyk, V. Oluyko, V. Pasichnyk et аl. The assessment of real threats and challenges to national security, as well as their geopolitical context, was conducted by S. Bielay, V. Hulay, K. Kononenko, M. Malsky, L. Novoskoltseva et al.
Highlighting previously unsettled parts of the general problem. To analyse the prerequisites, main provisions, security risks, challenges and tasks of the 2020 National Security Strategy, find out its novelties in comparison with previous strategies, as well as to determine its significance for the current situation in Ukraine.
Paper main body. It has been established that since 2014, full-scale aggression of the Russian Federation has continued in Ukraine, which has all the typical features of so-called “hybrid war”, and is implemented in the forms of military and other illegal actions, reflected in almost all key spheres of life of the Ukrainian state and society in general, including information, economic and diplomatic space. So, on September 14, 2020, the President of Ukraine signed the Decree “On the National Security Strategy of Ukraine”. The content and structure of the Strategy is quite different from its previous versions adopted in 2007, 2012 and 2015. The adoption of this document was really expected, because it should have shown the authorities’ vision of threats, risks and challenges to Ukraine’s national security and determination of the ways to neutralize such threats. The new Strategy replaced one dated 2015. 2020 Strategy makes the appropriate accents and articulates problems that clarify the view of security component and this is important from the point of view of the activities of state bodies, because this is what they will rely on in the coming years when forming their action plans, primarily in the security sector.
For the first time, the new Strategy is based on the following basic principles: 1) deterrence; 2) resilience; 3) interaction. This document focuses not only on military issues, but also on areas related to the security sector, information, diplomatic and economic spheres.
The Strategy focuses on the fact that the Russian Federation, while continuing military actions against Ukraine, systematically uses economic, political, military, information and psychological, as well as cyber means.
In addition, the Strategy takes into account the latest changes related to the crisis in global economy, the spread of the COVID-19 disease caused by coronavirus, as well as the increased risk of natural and man-made emergency situations. With the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, there were also critical problems in the health and social protection systems, in the information sphere, and this in turn led to an increase in unemployment, destruction of established lifestyles and, in general, it threatens food development, hinders free movement of capital, goods and labour force, damaging the service sector.
There is also an intensification of rivalry between key world players in the geopolitical position, in particular, between the United States of America and the People’s Republic of China for world leadership.
The document stipulates that acquisition of full membership of Ukraine in the EU and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is the strategic course of the state.
Conclusions of the research and prospects for further studies.The 2020 National Security Strategy meets the challenges of our time and is more narrative than similar documents of previous years. Its basic principles such as deterrence, resilience and interaction provide more opportunities for updating the security sector and responding quickly and flexibly to new challenges and threats facing Ukraine. At the same time, the implementation of ideas set out in the Strategy will depend on those sub-strategic documents (strategies and programs) that are to be adopted within six months according to the new Strategy. If these documents manage to offer effective means of counteracting hostile activity, the newly adopted Strategy will become an effective planning tool, rather than another bureaucratic pro forma.
Research and analysis of other new regulations defining security challenges and threats for Ukraine can be a prospect for further scientific research.
Armed Forces, Security Strategy and Governance Programme, Institute of Food Security, Federal University of Agriculture Makurdi, Nigerias and Nigeria’s National Security Challenges: A Case Study
