Drawn From The Russia–Ukraine Conflict (I)
“History is the best prophecy, but only for those who know how to read it.”
– paraphrase after Thucydides/Santayana
By General (ret) Corneliu Pivariu
The present paper aims to highlight the main geopolitical and military lessons resulting from the Russia–Ukraine conflict, the largest war fought on the European continent since 1945. Its analysis offers not only an understanding of how international relations are being reshaped, but also of the fundamental changes in the art of war, defense strategies, and the ways societies respond to the pressures generated by war.
To grasp the scale and complexity of the current conflict, it is essential to consider the context of its outbreak. The crisis did not begin with the massive attack of 24 February 2022; it was preceded by the events of 2014: the annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation and the outbreak of the war in Donbas. Between 2014 and 2022, a progressive escalation unfolded, marked by limited clashes, the consolidation of Western sanctions, increased military support for Kyiv, and the radicalization of geopolitical rhetoric in Moscow. The large-scale invasion of February 2022 was the culmination of this evolution. In this regard, the Minsk Agreements[1] I and II are worth noting, as they represent the link between the frozen conflict period (2014–2022) and the outbreak of full-scale war in 2022.
Ukraine holds strategic geopolitical importance for both sides. For Russia, control over Ukraine means securing its western front and maintaining a buffer zone against NATO, as well as consolidated access to the Black Sea. For NATO and the European Union, Ukraine’s independence and resilience are essential for the security of the eastern flank, the stability of the Black Sea region, and the safeguarding of the rules-based international order.
In this sense, the conflict is not merely a military confrontation between two states, but also a test of the global balance of power. The lessons drawn from the war touch both the geopolitical domain — transformations of the world order, the functioning of alliances, strategies for energy and economic security — and the military domain, where technological innovations (drones, hypersonic missiles, information and cyber warfare), logistics, human intelligence, and societal adaptability have played decisive roles. This mixture of old and new has shaped a complex picture of how warfare will unfold in the 21st century, demonstrating that no operational model is robust without continuous adaptability and massive logistical support.
The purpose of this endeavor is to provide a framework for reflection for political and military decision-makers who must prepare European and Romanian society for future challenges. The lessons of the Russia–Ukraine war are not only those of Kyiv or Moscow; they represent warnings and sources of inspiration for the entire international community.
II. Geopolitical Lessons
“The history of Europe is the story of borders that have never remained fixed.”
1. The International Order and Multipolarity
The conflict in Ukraine cannot be analyzed in isolation; it must be understood as part of a broader confrontation between two geopolitical and ideological orientations: globalism — with a dominant component represented by the neo-Marxist current promoted by transnational networks such as the one associated with George Soros — and sovereigntism, reflected in the multipolar vision supported by states such as Russia, China, and other actors challenging the Western-led liberal international order. In this context, Russia’s invasion in February 2022 and the Western response became a defining moment, not only for European security but also for the global balance between these two paradigms.
The Russia–Ukraine war has acted as a catalyst for the transformation of the international order, accelerating processes already visible after the 2008 financial crisis and, more clearly, after the annexation of Crimea in 2014. While the end of the Cold War ushered in a period of American unipolar dominance, the large-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 demonstrated that this configuration no longer reflects current realities.
The Western response to the invasion was striking in both scope and strategic coherence, even though it was neither uniform nor immediate. The United States, the European Union, and NATO allies managed to send a common message condemning the aggression and to adopt support measures for Ukraine, proving that transatlantic solidarity remains functional. For the first time since the Cold War, the West acted in concert in the face of a major threat to the international order.
A closer analysis, however, shows that this response was gradual and marked by internal differences. Economic sanctions, financial aid, and military assistance were introduced step by step, depending on each state’s energy dependence and domestic political constraints. While the U.S. and the United Kingdom moved quickly, the European Union revealed hesitations and divergent approaches: Germany oscillated between caution and firmness, France tried to keep a diplomatic channel open, while Hungary openly opposed certain measures.
Paradoxically, the war revitalized NATO, an institution many had considered in decline. Russian aggression led not only to the strengthening of the Eastern Flank but also to the Alliance’s enlargement with Sweden and Finland — a historic step that altered the security balance in Northern Europe. At the same time, rearmament plans and higher defense budgets in most member states point to a long-term strategic realignment.
Yet Western unity remains under significant pressure. The economic costs of sanctions, public opinion fatigue, and electoral dynamics in democratic states risk eroding support for Ukraine in the medium and long term. The essential geopolitical lesson is that the West can build a common front when it perceives a direct threat, but such cohesion is fragile and depends on maintaining political consensus both domestically and across the Atlantic.
At the same time, the conflict revealed that a significant part of the international community — including emerging powers such as China, India, Brazil, and South Africa — refuses to accept the Western paradigm as the sole reference of legitimacy. The strategic neutrality of many states in the “Global South” reflects a realignment of power relations, in which non-Western powers seek to maximize their autonomy and negotiate their interests according to national priorities.
Thus, the war in Ukraine has accelerated the transition toward multipolarity through:
- The weakening of Western dominance: while transatlantic unity has strengthened, the West’s ability to impose rules and sanctions universally is increasingly contested.
- The rise of alternative blocs: the expansion of BRICS, the dynamics of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), and the strategic rapprochement between Russia and China are clear signs of an emerging multipolar order.
- The fragmentation of the global economy: the partial decoupling of energy and technology markets from the West, along with Russia’s reorientation toward Asia, confirms the trend toward regional economic spheres.
The multipolarity taking shape is not a stable or predictable system but rather a “fluid multipolarity,” characterized by ad hoc alliances, economic pragmatism, and intense competition for resources and technology. This fluidity increases strategic uncertainty, as the rules of the global game are increasingly unclear and contested.
A visible outcome of the conflict was the expansion of BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) through the admission of new members in 2023–2024, including Saudi Arabia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and Ethiopia. This diversification reflects the desire of several states to align with an alternative pole to the G7, both politically and economically. Even though BRICS is not a politico-military alliance but rather a cooperation platform, its geopolitical symbolism is strong: it signals that key states in the Middle East and Africa seek a more autonomous position vis-à-vis the West.
India pursued a strategy of “diplomatic balancing”: it refused to explicitly condemn Russia and increased imports of discounted Russian oil, while at the same time maintaining close relations with the U.S. and the EU, strengthening its status as an “indispensable actor” in the Indo-Pacific. This flexibility shows that multipolarity does not mean rigid blocs but selective alliances calibrated to national interests.
China chose to act as an “indirect supporter” of Russia, providing it with markets and diplomatic backing while avoiding a direct breach of Western sanctions. Beijing also attempted a mediator role, launching peace plans and projecting itself as an “alternative” to Western diplomacy. In reality, however, China sought above all to exploit Russia’s isolation for economic and strategic gain, securing preferential access to Russian energy resources and markets.
Turkey represents a special case of a state that repositioned itself with skill. As a NATO member, it supported Ukraine with Bayraktar drones and endorsed Alliance initiatives, while at the same time negotiating agreements with Moscow on grain exports and economic ties. This “double game” allowed Ankara to strengthen its status as a regional power indispensable both to the West and to Russia.
Overall, these developments show that multipolarity is no longer a theoretical concept but a reality in the making, visible in the concrete repositioning of global and regional actors who refuse to relate exclusively to the Western liberal order. For Romania and the Black Sea region, this dynamic has direct implications, as the area becomes an intersection point between NATO, Russia, and new regional power poles.
The international order and multipolarity are defined not only by the objective realities of power but also by the way global actors construct and project their perceptions of those realities. In geopolitics, the difference between reality and perception often becomes a battlefield in itself; yet, even if perceptions can shape events for a time, reality ultimately prevails.
2. The Russia–West Relationship
The war launched by the Russian Federation against Ukraine exposed both the limits and vulnerabilities of the relationship between Moscow and the West, as well as the latter’s ability to rediscover strategic unity in the face of a major threat. Until 2022, Russia had managed to exploit internal divisions within NATO and the EU through influence operations, energy dependencies, and selective diplomacy. However, the large-scale invasion of Ukraine produced the opposite effect: greater cohesion in the West.
This cohesion, however, is not without cracks. Economically, sanctions against Russia revealed differences between European states dependent on Russian gas and those with alternative supplies. Politically, some capitals oscillated between firmness and caution, fearing domestic costs or direct escalation with Moscow. Militarily, although NATO reacted with remarkable speed, major disparities remain between U.S. capabilities and those of European allies — confirming Europe’s structural dependence on the American security umbrella.
For Russia, confrontation with the West exposed both vulnerabilities and strengths. On the one hand, economic and technological isolation highlighted the limits of the selective integration pursued by Moscow for three decades. On the other hand, the Kremlin maintained an active diplomatic front outside the Euro-Atlantic sphere, capitalizing on the frustration of Global South states and consolidating ties with China, Iran, and North Korea. The conflict thus transformed the Russia–West relationship into a pivot of the new global geopolitical confrontation, with reverberations far beyond Europe.
The main lesson is that despite the West’s apparent unity, its relationship with Russia remains asymmetrical and unstable, where immediate interests and public perceptions weigh as heavily as strategic realities. Moreover, this relationship is not merely bilateral but a test of the West’s ability to maintain internal coherence and external credibility in the face of a revisionist power challenging the liberal international order.
a) The Failure of Mutual Deterrence
The invasion revealed that Western deterrence mechanisms failed to prevent the Kremlin from resorting to aggression. Although the U.S. and European allies issued strong warnings, these were not backed by preventive military measures, but only by the threat of sanctions. Russia, in turn, bet on Western disunity and NATO’s inability to react quickly. That calculation proved wrong: the response was prompt, massive, and sustained.
b) NATO’s Response
The North Atlantic Alliance underwent a major transformation:
- It deployed additional troops on the eastern flank, including in Romania and Poland;
- It accelerated Finland and Sweden’s accession, extending NATO’s direct border with Russia;
- It reconfigured its strategic doctrine, designating Russia as the main direct threat to Euro-Atlantic security.
Thus, an organization some had described as “brain dead” (Emmanuel Macron, 2019) proved its vitality through rapid adaptation to the reality of high-intensity conventional war.
c) The European Union and Sanctions
The European Union demonstrated an unexpected degree of unity: by mid-July 2025, it had adopted 18 packages of sanctions against Russia, with a 19th already in preparation.
These measures enabled a rapid reduction of dependence on Russian gas and provided Ukraine with tens of billions of euros in support. At the same time, granting candidate status to Ukraine[2] and the Republic of Moldova was a step of major geopolitical significance — a clear signal of rebalancing in Eastern Europe.
Yet European cohesion, although real and rare, came at a cost. Inflation and rising energy prices fueled social discontent and waves of Euroscepticism and populism in several member states. Coordination was achieved through compromises — as in the case of Slovakia, which lifted its veto in exchange for guarantees in the natural gas sector.
Sanctions were made more effective by targeting the energy sector, the “shadow fleet” transporting Russian oil and gas, and banks and entities in the military and financial domains. In the 18th package, the EU lowered the price cap on Russian oil from USD 60 to USD 47.6 per barrel.
Over the long term, sanctions are likely to have more impact as instruments of economic and political decoupling than as immediate coercion. Russia has turned increasingly toward Asia and the Global South, thereby reducing Europe’s leverage.
d) The Reconfiguration of Transatlantic Relations
The United States has returned to the center of the European security system. Washington provided the most extensive military and financial support for Kyiv, and European leaders, even when reluctant, accepted the essential role of the U.S. as guarantor of defense. This reinforced the transatlantic axis but also highlighted Europe’s strategic dependence on America, especially in military and technological domains.
At the same time, this reconfiguration is not without uncertainty. A recalibration of U.S. engagement in Europe and Ukraine has already begun, driven by the prioritization of competition with China in the Indo-Pacific and domestic fiscal pressures. Support for Kyiv has become more selective and conditional, with Washington sending a clear message to allies: Europeans must shoulder a far greater share of collective security. In this regard, the U.S. call for NATO members to allocate 5% of GDP to defense marks a paradigm shift, signaling that American resources will increasingly be directed toward other theaters[3].
e) Perspectives
In the medium and long term, the Russia–West relationship is undergoing a structural rupture:
- Russia has almost completely decoupled from the West and turned toward Asia;
- NATO and the EU have adopted long-term deterrence and defense policies;
- The world is witnessing the emergence of a hybrid Iron Curtain, less geographical and more economic, technological, and informational.
This does not reproduce the rigid blocs of the Cold War but instead signals a sharper fragmentation of the international system, with antagonistic camps and gray zones where states pursue balancing strategies. The confrontation is no longer purely military but also one of competing political and ideological systems: the Western liberal-democratic model versus the authoritarian model promoted by Russia, with partial support from other powers such as China.
3. The Role of International Organizations
The war in Ukraine was a stress test for the entire international security system. How the main organizations reacted — or, conversely, failed to manage the conflict — offers valuable lessons about both the limits and the potential of multilateral cooperation.
a) The United Nations (UN)
The UN, created to prevent and resolve major conflicts, proved powerless in the face of Russia’s invasion. Moscow’s veto in the Security Council blocked any coercive resolution, gravely undermining the credibility of the collective security mechanism. The General Assembly adopted symbolic resolutions of condemnation, but without practical effect. The situation confirmed that the UN remains trapped in the 1945 architecture, unable to cope with today’s multipolar realities.
b) The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)
The OSCE, traditionally a forum for dialogue between East and West, fell into deep paralysis. Its monitoring missions in Ukraine were suspended, while Russia blocked budgets and decision-making mechanisms. The conflict demonstrated that an organization based on consensus lacks effective tools to prevent or manage high-intensity wars.
c) The Council of Europe
The Council of Europe reacted by expelling Russia in March 2022 — an unprecedented move, though largely symbolic. Although normatively important, the Council of Europe has no executive capacity in matters of security, its role being limited to promoting democratic values and human rights.
d) NATO
NATO was the only international organization to demonstrate strategic relevance. Its rapid reaction capability, adaptation of defense plans, and enlargement with Finland and Sweden showed that the Alliance remains the cornerstone of European security. At the same time, NATO avoided direct involvement in the war, maintaining its mandate of collective defense while leaving military assistance to member states acting bilaterally.
e) The European Union (EU)
The EU took unprecedented steps:
- For the first time, it used the European Peace Facility to finance arms deliveries to a country at war;
- It adopted large-scale economic sanctions, coordinated with the U.S. and the G7;
- It opened the accession perspective for Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova, strengthening the geopolitical dimension of enlargement.
Thus, the conflict transformed the EU from a predominantly economic actor into an emerging geopolitical actor — though still dependent on the American military umbrella.
Partial Conclusion
The role of international organizations in the Ukraine conflict reveals a dual reality: institutions created in the postwar period (UN, OSCE, Council of Europe) exposed their limits, while newer or more flexible structures (NATO, EU) reinforced their relevance. The key lesson is that the future of the international security architecture will depend increasingly on organizations able to combine political will, economic resources, and military capability.
4. The Effects on European Security
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has produced the most profound reshaping of the European security architecture since 1989. Beyond the immediate impact on Ukraine, the conflict has compelled European states to rethink their strategic priorities, increase defense investments, and accept the accelerated militarization of the continent.
a) The Militarization of Central and Eastern Europe
The countries on NATO’s Eastern Flank — Poland, Romania, and the Baltic states — have become the new center of gravity for European security.
- Poland announced the most extensive military modernization in its history, aiming to build one of the strongest European armies.
- Romania accelerated procurement programs and hosted a growing number of allied troops and equipment.
- The Baltic states called for a permanent NATO presence and additional defense infrastructure.
This shift indicates a movement of the security center of gravity from the Atlantic to Eastern Europe, where risks are perceived as immediate and existential.
b) Redefining Security Frontiers
With Finland’s accession (2023) and Sweden’s accession (2024), NATO considerably extended its direct border with Russia, altering the strategic balance in Northern Europe. In the South, the Black Sea has become a key security zone for the Alliance, with Romania and Bulgaria gaining importance as frontline states. Thus, the “European security frontier” is no longer the Elbe River or the Berlin Wall, but NATO’s eastern line, stretching from the Baltic to the Black Sea.
c) Strengthening the Eastern Front[4]
NATO shifted from a posture of deterrence through symbolic presence (multinational battalions) to one of forward defense: allied brigades, air defense systems, logistical hubs, and support infrastructure. In Romania, U.S. and allied military presence increased significantly, with the Mihail Kogălniceanu and Cincu bases becoming strategic nodes.
d) Increased Defense Spending
Most European states have committed to the 2% of GDP defense target, while some (Poland, the Baltic states) have even exceeded it. Germany created a special fund of €100 billion to modernize the Bundeswehr, marking a historic turning point. This trend shows that security has once again become an absolute priority for Europe, after decades of underfunding and complacency in the “peace dividend.”
e) Persistent Vulnerabilities
However, Europe remains dependent on the U.S. for key capabilities: air defense, satellites, fifth-generation aircraft, command, and control. Moreover, divergences among member states — especially between East and West — persist regarding the pace and scope of support for Ukraine.
Partial Conclusion
The Russia–Ukraine conflict has produced a strategic revolution in Europe: the militarization of the East, NATO’s enlargement, the redefinition of frontiers, and the increase in defense budgets. Nonetheless, structural dependence on the U.S. and the lack of a sufficiently integrated European defense industry remain major weak points.
5. Energy and Economic Implications
The war in Ukraine has had structural effects not only in the military and geopolitical realms but also in the energy and economic dimensions, fundamentally transforming relations between states and the logic of interdependence. Europe, in particular, was forced to make rapid and painful adjustments in order to maintain economic stability and energy security.
a) The Gas Crisis and the Reconfiguration of Energy Markets
By 2021, Russia was supplying approximately 40% of the European Union’s gas needs. The invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines forced Europe to drastically reduce this dependency. In just two years, the EU managed to diversify its sources:
- Massive LNG imports from the U.S. and Qatar.
- Strengthened regional energy interconnections (Poland–Lithuania, Greece–Bulgaria, Romania–Hungary).
- Accelerated transition to renewables, with additional investments in solar, wind, and nuclear energy.
This shift, however, brought higher energy prices and inflationary pressures, with social and political effects on European governments.
b) Russia and the Loss of the European Market
For Russia, the loss of the European market was a strategic blow. The Kremlin attempted to redirect exports to China, India, and Turkey, offering significant discounts. Although this mitigated the economic shock, revenues remained far below those generated by the European market. The result was an accelerated repositioning of Russia as a supplier dependent on Asia, with a reduced capacity to project power through energy instruments.
c) The Reconfiguration of Trade Routes
The war disrupted transport and trade corridors:
- The blockade of the Black Sea affected Ukrainian grain exports, provoking food crises in Africa and the Middle East.
- The EU–Ukraine Solidarity Corridor (road and rail) was created to maintain trade flows, though at higher costs.
- Countries such as Romania and Poland became key logistical hubs for the transit of goods, including grain and energy.
d) Global Economic Impact
The conflict contributed to:
- The fragmentation of the global economy into blocs (the West vs. BRICS+).
- The acceleration of discussions on de-dollarization, with BRICS efforts to create alternative payment mechanisms.
- Increased defense spending in Europe, with effects on public budgets and fiscal policies.
e) Lessons for Energy Security
The main lesson is that unilateral dependence on a single supplier constitutes a strategic vulnerability. Europe learned this lesson at high cost but increased its long-term resilience. At the same time, the war demonstrated that energy remains a top-tier geopolitical weapon, capable of influencing not only economies but also the political orientations of states.
Partial Conclusion
The energy and economic dimension of the Russia–Ukraine conflict has produced a dual transformation: Europe has become less vulnerable to Russia but more dependent on the U.S. and global LNG markets; Russia has lost its dominant position in Europe but has strengthened its partnerships with Asia. Overall, the global economy is experiencing accelerated fragmentation, with long-term consequences for stability and prosperity.
6. The Problem of Ukraine’s Borders
The war launched by the Russian Federation has brought back into focus the fragility of Ukraine’s borders and the dispute over their historical and legal legitimacy. For Moscow, Ukraine’s current borders are the result of arbitrary decisions made during the Soviet period, while for the West they represent a reality enshrined in international law and a fundamental condition for European stability.
The Historical Dimension
Ukraine’s borders were shaped through a process marked by political decisions taken in Moscow. In 1922, the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic entered the USSR with its historical borders. Later, the territories changed significantly: in 1940, Northern Bukovina and Southern Bessarabia were annexed from Romania; in 1954, Crimea was transferred to Ukraine by decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet as a symbolic gesture. At the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, Ukraine proclaimed independence within its existing borders, which were internationally recognized — including by Russia, through bilateral treaties and the Budapest Memorandum (1994), which guaranteed Ukraine’s territorial integrity in exchange for relinquishing its nuclear arsenal.
It cannot be ignored that the Ribbentrop–Molotov Pact of 1939 and its secret protocol, by which the USSR and Nazi Germany divided their spheres of influence in Eastern Europe, laid the foundation for the territorial changes of 1940. Although the pact was declared null and void by the international community and by the USSR itself in 1989, not all of its consequences were undone. Thus, some territories annexed at that time — such as Northern Bukovina and Southern Bessarabia — remained part of independent Ukraine after 1991. In Romania’s case, this reality was assumed through the 1997 Treaty of Good Neighborliness with Ukraine, by which Bucharest recognized the existing borders as part of its commitments for Euro-Atlantic integration.
The Political-Legal Dimension
The post-1945 international order was based on the principle of the inviolability of borders, enshrined in the Helsinki Final Act (1975) and the UN Charter. Russia’s contestation of Ukraine’s borders has brought into collision two fundamental principles:
- the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states;
- the right to self-determination, invoked by Moscow in the cases of Crimea and Donbas.
The 2022 invasion showed that Russia chose to impose its own interpretation by force, undermining the normative framework that had guaranteed European peace after the Cold War.
The Geopolitical Dimension
Ukraine’s borders have direct strategic relevance. Control of Crimea ensures dominance in the northern Black Sea and access to maritime resources, while Donbas, rich in resources and industry, represents an energy and logistical pivot. In addition, Ukraine’s western borders make it an essential corridor linking the Euro-Atlantic space with the Eurasian one.
The contestation of these borders is not merely a bilateral issue but a European and global one. If the inviolability of internationally recognized borders becomes negotiable through force, the precedent could destabilize not only Eastern Europe but also other regions of the world, from the Middle East to East Asia.
Conclusion
The problem of Ukraine’s borders is a major geopolitical lesson: it shows how fragile state constructions resulting from historical compromises can be, and how vulnerable the international order remains when its principles are contested through the use of force. The resolution of this dispute will influence not only Ukraine’s future but also the credibility of the entire European and global security architecture.
If the analysis of Ukraine’s borders highlights the fragility of state constructions and the direct implications for European security, at the global level the conflict has also led to strategic repositioning by the great powers, each seeking to maximize its gains in a multipolar world in the making.
7. Global Actors
The Russia–Ukraine war has had an impact that transcended Europe’s borders, forcing major global actors to clarify their positions and adapt their strategies. Their stances reflect the dynamics of a multipolar world in which national interests prevail over ideological solidarity.
a) China – Tacit Support and Strategic Opportunism
China avoided condemning the invasion, maintaining an ambiguous discourse: supporting the principle of territorial integrity while also acknowledging Russia’s “legitimate security concerns.” In practice:
- Beijing became Russia’s main economic partner, absorbing energy resources at heavily discounted prices.
- It offered diplomatic support, presenting itself as an alternative to Western mediation (China’s peace plan of 2023).
- At the same time, it avoided direct military involvement so as not to breach Western sanctions.
Lesson: China is exploiting the conflict to weaken the West and draw Russia into its orbit, while avoiding overly close association with an actor perceived as a “long-term loser.”
b) India – Strategic Neutrality and Pragmatism
India pursued a balancing approach:
- It did not condemn Moscow and increased imports of discounted Russian oil.
- At the same time, it strengthened its strategic partnership with the U.S. in the Indo-Pacific.
- It positioned itself as a leader of the Global South, using the war to bolster its international status.
India demonstrates that multipolarism does not mean rigid blocs but rather diplomatic flexibility and the use of regional conflicts to advance its own agenda.
c) The Global South – Between Opportunity and Vulnerability
Many states in Africa, Asia, and Latin America adopted neutral positions or refused to apply sanctions against Russia. The reasons are multiple:
- Dependence on food and energy supplies from Russia and Ukraine.
- Distrust of the West’s “double standards,” condemning this invasion while tolerating other conflicts.
- The desire to secure economic advantages (cheaper raw materials, Chinese investments).
For the Global South, the main lesson is that geopolitical fragmentation offers them room for maneuver but also exposes them to acute vulnerabilities in the face of food and energy crises.
d) Turkey – Mediator and Regional Power
Turkey emerged as an indispensable actor:
- It supported Ukraine by supplying Bayraktar drones and backing NATO enlargement.
- At the same time, it maintained economic and energy ties with Russia.
- It mediated the Black Sea Grain Agreement, consolidating its status as a mediator.
Turkey demonstrates that medium-sized powers can play a disproportionately large role when they benefit from strategic geography and diplomatic flexibility.
Beyond the individual positions of major actors, the overall picture of the conflict highlights structural trends and constants that shape the international order. These crystallize into a few essential conclusions regarding the direction of contemporary geopolitics.
Conclusions on Geopolitical Lessons
The Russia–Ukraine conflict acted as a catalyst for trends already visible globally, bringing to light realities and contradictions that the international community can no longer ignore. The analysis of geopolitical lessons leads to several fundamental conclusions:
1. The Erosion and Frequent Violation of International Law
International legal norms, painstakingly built in the postwar decades, are increasingly ignored, reinterpreted, or applied selectively. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, along with numerous other interventions or military actions in recent decades, demonstrates that international law no longer carries the same binding force. Without effective and impartial enforcement mechanisms, it risks becoming a mere rhetorical instrument. This trend not only undermines the architecture of global security but also accentuates the perception of double standards, which diminishes the legitimacy of international institutions.
2. The Fragility of the International Balance of Power
After the end of the Cold War, the hope for a stable world order proved illusory. The global balance of power is fragmenting, and centers of power are multiplying without clear regulatory mechanisms between them. Strategic rivalry between the U.S. and China, competition between Russia and the West, and the rise of regional powers (India, Turkey, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Brazil) accentuate the volatility of international relations. Each regional crisis risks becoming a piece in the global game of great powers, increasing the likelihood of escalation and indirect conflicts.
3. The Geopolitical Irrelevance of the European Union
Although the EU has immense economic and institutional critical mass, it continues to be perceived as a secondary geopolitical actor. Internal divisions, the inability to formulate coherent foreign policies, and often uninspired leadership have diminished the Union’s role in the global order. In the context of the war in Ukraine, the EU acted mainly under the umbrella and initiative of the United States, confirming its status as a normative actor but not a strategic one. The absence of a credible common foreign and security policy leaves the Union vulnerable and dependent on the decisions of others.
4. The Weaknesses of the United States
Although Washington has once again become the main guarantor of European security, it is increasingly evident that American power has limits. Domestic political polarization and electoral uncertainties affect the consistency of foreign policy. Moreover, the strategy of simultaneously maintaining supremacy in Europe, the Middle East, and the Indo-Pacific places enormous pressure on U.S. military and diplomatic resources. A crisis of confidence among some allies and public fatigue over long-term external commitments indicate that American hegemony faces gradual erosion.
5. The Rise of China as the Pivot of Multipolarism
Beijing has consolidated its international position through a mix of economic growth, technological expansion, active diplomacy, and military modernization. Unlike the U.S. and the EU, China offers an alternative to the Western liberal order, based on concepts such as “win-win cooperation” and a “community with a shared future.” In parallel, initiatives such as BRICS, the SCO, and the Belt and Road Initiative provide Beijing with instruments of global influence. In the context of the Ukraine conflict, China avoided a frontal stance but exploited circumstances to increase its influence among the countries of the Global South. This gradual rise is profoundly reshaping the world’s power architecture.
6. The Positioning of Major Global Actors
The war in Ukraine is not merely a regional conflict but a pivotal event for the world order. China and India assert themselves as emerging poles, the Global South seeks autonomy from the West, and Turkey confirms the role of regional powers as balancing factors. Multipolarism is no longer an abstract concept but a dynamic reality, visible in the ways global actors calibrate their responses to the conflict.
7. Perceptions and Reality
Another major lesson concerns the relationship between perceptions and reality. Perceptions can shape political decisions and public reactions, generate alliances, and enable rapid mobilizations; but in the long run, strategic reality — resources, geography, demography, and military capabilities — asserts itself. In the case of the war in Ukraine, the perception of a “rapid and united” Western response concealed real divergences between European capitals and between them and Washington, divergences that are becoming increasingly visible as the conflict drags on.
In conclusion, the geopolitical lessons of the war show that the world is undergoing an accelerated and chaotic transition toward multipolarism. No global actor holds a monopoly on power or legitimacy anymore, while competition among great powers unfolds simultaneously on the military, economic, technological, and ideological planes. In this context, medium and small states, such as Romania, are compelled to navigate cautiously between opportunities and risks, constantly adapting their strategies so as not to become collateral victims of great power rivalries.
Geopolitical Lessons for Romania
1. The Importance of Strategic Positioning
The war confirmed that Romania lies in a geopolitical contact zone between rival blocs: NATO/EU and the Russian sphere of influence. This position offers advantages (increased attention from allies, security opportunities, and investments) but also risks (the possibility of becoming a theater of war or a target of hybrid pressure). Romania must transform this position into a strategic asset rather than a vulnerability.
2. The Need to Consolidate National Security
Russia’s aggression demonstrated that external guarantees, even those of NATO, do not exclude national responsibility. Romania must increase its internal resilience, modernize its army and defense industry, and secure its critical infrastructure (energy, transport, communications, natural resources). Without these measures, exclusive reliance on allied support could prove risky.
3. Vulnerability to Competition over Energy and Resources
Energy and resources have become geopolitical weapons. Romania, although it has resources in the Black Sea and significant agricultural potential, remains vulnerable due to the absence of a coherent strategy for their exploitation. The lesson of the conflict shows that energy and food security are direct dimensions of national security.
4. The Limitations of the European Union and Romania’s Adaptation
The EU’s geopolitical irrelevance shows that Romania cannot rely solely on the “Brussels umbrella.” A dual strategy is needed: active involvement in EU decision-making to defend national interests, and the consolidation of bilateral relations with key actors (the U.S., Turkey, Poland, France, the United Kingdom). At the same time, Romania must pay close attention to the evolution of EU–China relations, which will decisively influence the continent’s economic and political future. A lucid stance that avoids both excessive dependence and unnecessary confrontation with Beijing could become a strategic advantage for Bucharest.
5. Relations with the United States – Between Opportunity and Risk
The U.S. remains the guarantor of Romania’s security, but America’s internal weaknesses and the possibility of selective retrenchment compel Bucharest to diversify partnerships and strengthen its own defense capacity. Romania must prepare both for the scenario in which American commitment is maintained and for a potential rebalancing of Washington’s priorities toward the Indo-Pacific.
6. Multipolarism and Opportunities for Balancing
The emergence of a multipolar system — in which China asserts itself as the main counterweight to the United States, and India, Turkey, and other regional powers expand their influence — creates new room for maneuver for medium-sized states. Romania must recognize that, although firmly anchored in NATO and the EU, it cannot afford to ignore China. Pragmatic dialogue with Beijing, managed in coordination with Western partners, can provide economic and technological opportunities as well as a better understanding of the major directions of world order.
Thus, Romania emerges as an actor that does not break away from its alliances but does not close its eyes to the dynamics of multipolarism.
7. Perceptions vs. Reality – Strategic Communication
The experience of the conflict showed that perceptions can obscure realities. Romania must avoid excessive dependence on external narratives and invest in its own analytical, strategic communication, and intelligence capabilities in order to distinguish between perceptions and realities.
📌 In summary: The fundamental lesson for Romania is that it cannot remain merely a passive recipient of security; it must assume an active role, strengthening its internal capacities and capitalizing on the geopolitical opportunities created by multipolarism, without straying from its Western alliances.
This is the only way Romania can transform its vulnerabilities into strategic assets and avoid the risk of becoming merely a battleground between great powers in a world undergoing profound change.
If the geopolitical lessons highlight the structural transformations of the world order, the military lessons shed light on the concrete ways in which these transformations manifest on the battlefield and on the practical insights that can be drawn from the Russia–Ukraine confrontation.
[1] The Minsk Agreements I (September 2014) and II (February 2015) were regarded as a politico-diplomatic solution to the Donbas conflict, but they largely remained on paper. In practice, Ukraine used the post-Minsk period to reorganize its army, receiving training and equipment from the U.S., the United Kingdom, Canada, and other NATO partners, while Russia consolidated the separatist forces, maintaining de facto control over Donbas and preparing for a later confrontation. The claim that Minsk provided Ukraine with time for military preparation was confirmed in 2022 by Angela Merkel and François Hollande (the main architects of the Agreements).
[2] Ukraine’s candidacy for EU membership is not rejected by Russia, unlike accession to NATO, which is vehemently opposed by Moscow and perceived as a threat to its national security. Personally, I consider that, under the current circumstances, Ukraine’s admission into the EU, even in a more distant future, is highly unlikely—both due to Ukraine’s internal issues and to probable developments within the EU.
[3] The proposal for NATO member states to reach the threshold of 5% of GDP for defense spending was advanced by U.S. officials during the preparatory discussions for the NATO Summit in Washington (July 2025), being presented as a possible future reference target.
[4] As in my previous work “Geopolitical Evolutions in the First Quarter of the 21st Century. Romania in This Context. Forecasts for 2050” – August 2025 (see also Diplomat Magazin – Geopolitical Evolutions in the First Quarter of the 21st Century), I prefer using the term “front” instead of “flank” (employed so far in all public documents), as it is more consistent with military terminology. Moreover, this aspect has also been noted by other internationally recognized geopoliticians.
