Origins of the Establishment of the Politico-Legal Basis for Relations between Ukraine and the Republic of Lithuania (1989–1994)

Abstract

Abstract. The relevance of the study lies in the need to understand the legal foundations of Ukrainian-Lithuanian relations in the context of contemporary challenges of European integration and international cooperation, particularly amid global geopolitical transformations. The purpose of the article is to analyze the legal framework for the formation of bilateral relations between Ukraine and the Republic of Lithuania in 1989–1994, focusing on the legal nature, significance, and impact of key agreements on the establishment of the international legal status of both states. The research methodology combines historical-chronological, comparative, and systemic approaches with an interdisciplinary analysis of legal, political, and historical aspects. The findings demonstrate that informal contacts between the People’s Movement of Ukraine and the Lithuanian Sąjūdis movement laid the groundwork for legally formalized bilateral relations, which facilitated the development of a legal framework for cooperation. The agreements concluded between 1991 and 1994 became the foundation for strengthening the international legal status of Ukraine and Lithuania, as well as their integration into the European legal space. The practical significance of the study lies in the potential application of its conclusions to enhance modern mechanisms of interstate cooperation, particularly in the areas of international judicial processes and European integration.