A busca por segurança ontológica como fundamento da política externa da Rússia em resposta à crise na Ucrânia (1999-2021)

Abstract

The article aims to analyze the foundation of Russia's foreign policy in response to the Ukraine crisis through the concept of ontological security. The ontological sphere is as important for state security as the physical one, to the point that it can be prioritized to the detriment of the latter in favor of the maintenance of the sense of identity, which is built through routinized relationships with relevant actors and a coherent biographical narrative. In methodological terms, this is a descriptive exploratory study that uses the dominant narrative analysis of official documents and speeches to understand the motives and interests of Russian behavior. The findings suggest that, in addition to the physical threat and geopolitical importance of the region, the post-Soviet space, particularly Ukraine, appears to integrate an imagined geography inextricably linked to Russian history, allowing the coherence of its biographical narrative after the disintegration of the USSR and exposing the need to ontological security-seeking. Despite shared historical and ethnic ties, the idea of a distinct Ukrainian nationality is seen as the result of nationalist politics, which has been co-opted by the West to constrain Russian capabilities and influence.