Abstract: This article explores the problems of Ukraine's integration into the European security system. Special attention is given to the questions of cooperation with the European Union, NATO and the OSCE that play an important role in promotion of security in the European continent. Emphasis is made on the analysis of the Ukrainian normative legal framework responsible for inclusion of Ukraine into the core structures of European security. Since 1991 to the present, all presidents of post-Soviet Ukraine from L. Kravchuk to V. Zelensky contributed considerably to the country’s integration into the European security system. With the development of relations with NATO, EU and OSCE, Ukraine sought to cooperate with the Eastern European countries within the framework of the key institutions of European security. Ukraine’s relations with certain Balkan states have experienced intense contradictions, for example dispute over the plan to liquidate Bolhradsky district in Odessa Region that was predominantly populated by ethnic Bulgarians. Since 2004, the territorial dispute between Ukraine and Romania pertaining to delimitation of continental shelf around the Snake Island has not been fully settled. The conflict between the two countries also aggravated due to the policy of reducing the Romanian-language educational establishments in Ukraine. Ukraine’s inclusion into the key structures of the European security is also impeded by Donbass armed conflict, the fact that the government of Ukraine does not recognize the Republic of Crimea's claim to sovereignty, as well as regularization of relations with the Russian Federation. The acquired results allow determining the motives underlying the foreign policy course of Ukraine that is aimed at its accession to the European Union and NATO, as well as the attempts to take its place within the European security system.

Keywords: European security, OSCE, European Union, NATO, Balkan countries, states of Eastern Europe, Russia, Ukraine, foreign policy, military-political cooperation

Abstract: This article is dedicated to determination of priority vectors in China-Mongolia relations in the early XXI century. Special role is assigned to cooperation in the political, economic and humanitarian spheres. A number of criteria that allow speaking of the level of intergovernmental relations in each indicated sphere is reviewed. For assessing political cooperation, the author considered the conceptual approaches of the PRC and Mongolia towards bilateral diplomacy. In this context, analysis was conducted on Mongolia's Third Neighbor Policy and China’s Partnership Diplomacy Strategy. The article explores the interaction of China and Mongolia on the global, regional and bilateral levels. In economic regard, the assessment of cooperation of the two countries was carried out on the basis of mutual trade turnover and the volume of foreign direct investment. In the humanitarian context of bilateral cooperation, the author studied the intensity of mutual tourism flows, student and academic exchanges. The analysis was performed within the framework of neorealist paradigm, in the categories of systemic approach for viewing China-Mongolia relations as a unified system consisting of three subsystems. The author's special contribution consists in the attempt to assess bilateral cooperation between China and Mongolia in the early XXI century, with consideration of the impact of the ongoing transformations within the system of international relations on the regional level. The conclusion is made that despite a number of threats that stem from PRC’s proactive policy in Eurasia, as well as the objective dissonance in socioeconomic development of the two countries, the cooperation in the indicated areas in the early XXI century few has been developing steadily. In the twenty-first century. It had a positive impact upon China-Mongolia relations overall.

Keywords: investment, political contacts, humanitarian area, economic cooperation, priority directions, Silk Road Belt, bilateral relations, Mongolia, China, trade

Abstract: This article is dedicated to analysis of the development prospects of Cuba-Russia relations after Fidel Castro’s rule. The goal consists in examination of the current state of bilateral relations between the countries, as well as in determination of major obstacles towards their reconciliation. The researchers outline most probable scenarios for the development of future foreign policy course of Cuba, and analyze the current state of bilateral Cuba-Russia diplomatic relations, economic and scientific-cultural cooperation. The article employs a wide range of sources that include the works of Russian and foreign experts, as well as reports, statistical and analytical data provided by various international and national institutions. Analysis is conducted on the news reports provided by Russian, US, European, Chinese, Latin American and other news agencies. The scientific novelty of this article consists in placing emphasis on the extremely weak economic framework for further advancement of bilateral Cuba-Russia relations, as well as possible threat to Russia's national interests in case of Cuba becomes a junior partner of the United States, People’s Republic of China, or the European Union. The acquired results allow concluding that the future of Cuba-Russian relations directly depends on strengthening of the economic base of their cooperation. Otherwise, Russia would be dislodged from the island, while other powers would become the so-called senior partner of the Cuban Republic.

Keywords: Cuban foreign policy, US-Cuban relations normalization, Russian-Cuban relations, Russian foreign policy, international relations, the Castro era, Cuban Republic, Sino-Cuban relations, EU-Cuban cooperation, Latin America

Abstract: This article explores the modern period in Mongolia-Russia relations. This period starts in the 1990s, when the countries shifted from the socialist path of development and planned economy towards democracy and market economy. Along the way, a decline in the relations turned into a comprehensive strategic partnership. The goal of this research consists in identification of the problems that impeded effective and mutually beneficial bilateral relations, as well as in analysis of the current state and prospects of these relations in the primary areas of cooperation. The author comes to the conclusion that at the present stage Mongolia-Russia relations have traveled the journey from a decline to comprehensive strategic partnership, which is substantiated by active political dialogue between the countries’ leaders; however, the problems remain in trade and economic relations, caused by the absence of initiative from the diplomatic mission of the two countries, noncompliance with agreements, berries and restrictions in the movement of goods. etc. Solution of the aforementioned problems is crucial for fruitful and dynamic development of bilateral relations, and would open prospects for long-term and mutually beneficial cooperation.

Keywords: perspectives, reality, Problems, Mongolian economy, foreign policy of Mongolia, Russian-mongolian relations, Mongolia, cooperation, modern state, Russia and Mongolia

Abstract: The subject of this research is the public diplomacy mechanism of the Russian Federation. The goal consists in consideration of the mechanism of functionality of public diplomacy of the Russian Federation based on the framework government documents, reports on the activity of the structures of public diplomacy of the Russian Federation, and expert analytical articles. The author examines the foreign policy concepts of the Russian Federation of 2000, 2008, 2013 and 2016, as well as reveals their structures and areas of focus. Analysis of the discourse of research on the public diplomacy of the Russian Federation allowed determining the gaps and the problematic areas that require further research. The article presents examples of the projects that were implemented in the indicated directions in accordance with the latter concept. In conclusion, the author outlines the development trends of public diplomacy mechanism of the Russian Federation. The mechanism of public diplomacy of the Russian Federation is an ambiguous phenomenon and still in the making. On the one hand, the understanding of “soft power” on the state level has evolved significantly in recent years. Moreover, the author traces the evolution of terminological field of public diplomacy in the official documents, as well as its objectives and development trends. On the other hand, the question of coordinating body within the mechanism of public diplomacy of the Russian Federation remains open and relevant. Attention of researchers is also focused on the actors and level of their engagement into the system, interaction between the elements within and outside the mechanism. At the same time, public diplomacy projects are implemented by the Russian Federation worldwide; they coordinate with the trends set by intergovernmental organizations, and appear to be quite effective with regards to provision of information support. The trend of digitization of international policy poses new challenges for the public diplomacy structures, which would require an evolution in understanding of the concept.

Keywords: Humanitarian cooperation, Internatioinal development, Foreign policy doctrine, Informational support, Smart power, People-to-people diplomacy, Soft power, Public diplomacy, Compatriot support, Digitalization