Kresin (2022) outlines a number of changes that 
Ukraine should initiate for building the security 
system  of  the  EU  and the  entire  world.  These 
changes  relate  to  the  adoption  of  the  UN 
Convention  that  prohibits  aggression  against  a 
sovereign state, and establishes punishment for 
this crime; creation of a security system based on 
security  guarantees  and  appropriate  diplomatic 
and military response to its violations; amending 
the Charter of the International Court of Justice 
of the United Nations; creation of a permanent 
UN  peacekeeping  contingent  to  respond  to 
threats  to  the  population  and  infrastructure; 
inclusion  of  measures  to  counter  non-military 
threats, such as propaganda, terror, intimidation, 
etc. in the security.  
 
Melnyk (2021) notes in the context of the EU and 
NATO  membership  requirements  that  Ukraine 
cannot  change  instantly  —  changes  require  a 
long time. This statement is true at the time of 
writing the researcher’s work — 2021, however, 
the situation has undergone certain changes with 
the military invasion, as the results of this study 
testify.  The  world  got  convinced  of  Ukraine’s 
ability to resist the aggression of a much larger 
country in terms of area and population, which 
apparently had  been  planning  an  attack  a  long 
time  ago.  In  turn, Ukraine received significant 
support  for  its  confrontation  efforts  from  the 
countries  of  the  world  —  financial,  military, 
humanitarian, etc. At the end of 2022, Ukraine is 
waiting  for  a  decision  from  the  European 
Commission  on  its  compliance  with  the 
recommendations  regarding  the  Ukraine’s  EU 
candidate  status.  This  fact  alone  indicates  that 
Europe is open to perceive Ukraine as a strong 
and equal partner, so there are high chances that 
Ukraine’s path to the EU and NATO membership 
will be shorter. 
 
However,  some  studies  show  that  not  all 
European countries believe that Ukraine is ready 
and is entitled to start the process of preparing for 
EU accession. Van Elsuwege and Van der Loo 
(28  March  2022)  emphasize  that  Ukraine  has 
made  significant  progress  in  implementing  the 
Association  Agreement,  but  the  expected 
catastrophic economic consequences caused by 
the war may overturn these efforts and hamper 
the  implementation  of  the  reform  agenda.  A 
slightly different opinion was expressed in this 
article:  while  agreeing  with  the  authors  on  the 
devastating consequences  of the  war, it  should 
be, however, noted that this view considers only 
one side of the issue. First, all European countries 
will feel and already feel the consequences of the 
war. Second, it is necessary to take into account 
that Ukraine continues to move along the chosen 
course even in the most difficult times, and fulfils 
the necessary requirements despite the obstacles. 
Third,  it  is  worth  reminding  that  Ukraine  is 
currently a kind of “shield” for Europe in the face 
of  the  aggressor.  This  struggle  requires 
cooperation  of  efforts,  and  Ukraine’s 
approximation to the EU and NATO membership 
could provide certain security guarantees to the 
country, which is crucial for the security of the 
EU as a whole, among other things. 
 
This  opinion  may  seem  somewhat  discrete  in 
contrast to the economic collapse caused by the 
war,  which  is  an  objective  reality.  However, 
some studies focus on the ideological side of the 
issue. Bélanger (16 March 2022) notes that the 
EU  would  probably  not  ignore  the  symbolism 
behind supporting Ukraine – one of the last non-
EU countries – at times when it is attacked by an 
aggressor. Otherwise it may affect the confidence 
of other countries in the EU as a regional power 
because  of  its  uncertainty  about  expanding  its 
borders. Sapir (2022) notes that Ukraine had little 
chance  of  obtaining  the  EU  candidate  status 
before the invasion of the Russian Federation, let 
alone becoming a EU member in the near future. 
However,  the  heroic  struggle  of  Ukrainians 
against the aggressor gained the respect of all EU 
countries, which became the reason for granting 
Ukraine,  as  well  as  the  neighbouring  country 
Moldova,  the  candidate  status.  The  researcher 
states two  main  obstacles  on  Ukraine’s  way  to 
the  EU  membership:  partially  occupied 
territories  and  the  low  quality  of  governance. 
However,  these obstacles should be  ignored in 
the event of Ukraine’s victory in the war, because 
Ukraine will return its territories, and the quality 
of  governance,  strengthened  by  the  spirit  of 
victory, will be beyond question. If the victory is 
not complete, the EU membership prospects will 
be  less  favourable  because  of  the  constant 
conflict with the aggressor. 
 
Many researchers express concern about the state 
of  global  food  security  in  the  context  of  the 
reduction  of  exports  from  Ukraine,  especially 
grain crops described in the article. Some studies, 
for example, the article by Ben Hassen and El 
Bilali  (2022),  provide  positive  aspects  in  this 
regard.  The  reduction  of  grain  exports  will 
contribute to the intensification of agriculture in 
other  countries,  as  well  as  the  development of 
innovations  in  the  field.  Jagtap  et  al.,  (2022) 
found  that  the  biggest  reduction  in  Ukrainian 
grain  exports  will  adversely affect Europe and 
Africa.  The  researchers  recommend  that  these 
regions  to  consider  alternative  grain  suppliers. 
Some researchers even propose sanctions relief 
packages  for  affected  third  countries  in  the