Iurie PATRICHEEV, LL.M. Legal Research student at the Faculty of Law, University of Groningen, the Netherlands.

Email: iuriepatricheev@gmail.com

Keywords: sovereignty, Russian imperialism, Eastern Europe, constructivism, Russian foreign policy.

The essay explores the evolution of the concept of sovereignty in the context of Russian imperialism in Eastern Europe, particularly its impact on Ukraine. It engages with a theoretical framework rooted in international relations and post-imperial studies, contrasting interpretations of sovereignty between IR scholars and international lawyers. The study identifies a shift in how sovereignty is perceived, moving from a monolithic understanding to a constructivist view where sovereignty is fragmented into a variety of types, most prominently, "full" and "limited". This author argues that Russian policies towards Eastern European states reflect this division, with Russia treating its smaller neighbours as states possessing only limited sovereignty, a status that can be revoked by force, should the stronger neighbour so decide. Through an analysis of Russian rhetoric and actions, this author highlights how Moscow's foreign policy aims to restore its "full" or "imperial" sovereignty over its neighbours, while simultaneously challenging the sovereignty of Western powers. Conceptually, this study provides a nuanced understanding of sovereignty as a key concept in analysing Russian expansionist ambitions in the region.