Abstract:
The disintegration of the Soviet Union and the emergence of the newly independen
states created a new geopolitical situation, not only in Eastern Europe, but on the global level a
well. The West lost its main enemy, the Cold War is over, and many Americans believe tha
there are no grounds for U.S. involvement in the affairs of the former Soviet Union. However,
Russia remains a great power with a huge nuclear arsenal, and the future of economic and
political reform is unclear, as its foreign policy, especially in the so-called “near abroad.” The
conflicts in this region influence the domestic and foreign policies of Russia and destabilize the
situation in Eastern Europe, providing new challenges for Western policy in this region.
