Shifting Influences in Ukrainian Foreign Policy: The Role of Oligarchs in Agriculture, Energy, and Technological Sectors

Abstract

This article investigates the role of Ukrainian oligarchs in shaping the country’s foreign policy decision-making process. The study examines the emergence and consolidation of the oligarch class following Ukraine's independence and the privatization reforms of the 1990s. Using a historical and political analysis approach, the article explores how oligarchs have built their economic and political networks, which allowed them to influence Ukraine's external relations through lobbying, media manipulation, and international business expansion. The results highlight that, while oligarchs have shaped foreign policy, their actions often prioritized personal or group interests over national objectives, complicating policy coherence. In the context of de-oligarchization reforms and the Russia-Ukraine conflict post-2014, the article finds that, although their influence has been constrained, oligarchs continue to play a significant role in foreign affairs. The article concludes by offering insights into the persistent and evolving influence of oligarchs on Ukraine’s foreign policy, emphasizing the complexity of their involvement within a shifting political landscape.