The policy of the United States and the Russian Federation towards Ukraine in the sphere of energy security after 2022

Abstract

The Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022 marks a turning point in the world order, including the global energy architecture. Energy wealth, including oil and gas, has a significant impact on the political structures of countries. The Russian Federation uses its energy resources as a political tool influencing the energy situation of Ukraine and European countries. The United States, in turn, supports allies on the European continent, seeking to reduce the region’s dependence on Russian supplies in order to strengthen its position on the international stage. The initial questions are: How do the United States and the Russian Federation view Ukraine in the context of energy security after 2022? What is the significance of integration with the European energy system for Ukraine in the context of Russia’s actions? What are the main differences between the approaches of the United States and the Russian Federation to energy issues in Ukraine? The Ukrainian state stabilizes and at the same time weakens the antagonisms of the great geopolitical players – the United States and the Russian Federation. Political players are seen through the prism of Schmitt’s division into friends and enemies, and thus the principle «The enemy of my enemy is my ally». The actions of the Russian Federation aimed at destabilising the Ukrainian energy sector should be seen as an ‘enemy’, while the US policy towards Ukraine, perceived by the state as a ‘friend’, should be seen as an effective strengthening of its energy independence.