The Impact of the Ukraine War on Energy Diplomacy in Russia
Keywords:
Ukraine war, political goals, national interests, foreign policy, energy diplomacyAbstract
Energy diplomacy is a branch of diplomatic relations aimed at ensuring energy security. Due to its increasing impact on national security and the economy, energy has entered the domain of diplomacy and foreign policy, strengthening both fields. This issue has led Russia, given its strategic position, to use energy as a diplomatic tool. However, the outbreak of the Ukraine war has brought significant changes and transformations in this type of diplomacy. In line with these developments, the present article seeks to answer the question: What impact has the Ukraine war had on Russia’s energy diplomacy? Using a descriptive-analytical research method, this study hypothesizes that "the Ukraine war appears to have increased China's need for energy while reducing the European Union’s dependence on Russian energy." The article’s conclusion indicates that, following the collapse of the Soviet Union, the use of energy resources to achieve foreign policy objectives had the most significant influence in the post-Soviet space. Russia has attempted to leverage energy as a tool to influence the domestic and foreign policies of consumer countries. However, this process has been disrupted by the Ukraine war, preventing the realization of these objectives.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Touba Pirzadian (Author); Dawood Kiani (Corresponding author); Keyhan Barzegar (Author)
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