International legal dimension of military cooperation within the framework of international regional organizations on the example of the European Union

The article is devoted to examining issues related to international military cooperation within the framework of the European Union. Special attention is given to aspects of military cooperation between Ukraine and the EU. The article also highlights specific aspects of military collaboration between Ukraine and the EU. Through specific examples, it reveals the significance of Euro-Atlantic integration processes for Ukraine in the context of international defence cooperation, emphasizing their role as one of the key conditions for ensuring the country’s military security. The full-scale war that erupted in Ukraine on February 24, 2022, has become the most compelling evidence that the integration of our state into NATO and the EU is one of the fundamental prerequisites for ensuring Ukraine’s military security. The strategic course aimed at Ukraine’s integration into the EU is the basis of our state’s foreign policy. It is enshrined in a number of Ukrainian domestic legal acts, such as the Constitution of Ukraine, the Law of Ukraine «On the Principles of Domestic and Foreign Policy», «Strategy of Foreign Policy of Ukraine», «Strategy of Military Security of Ukraine». Ukraine has a number of achievements on its way to implementing the abovementioned course, the key ones are the signing of the Association Agreement with the EU (2014) and obtaining the status of a candidate for EU membership (2022). In the context of the defence sector, the implementation of European integration processes is carried out through mechanisms of international military cooperation. The events of 2022–2025 have proven that the EU is a reliable partner for Ukraine not only in economic and political dimensions but also in matters of security and defence. As demonstrated by the events of 2022–2025, the EU can serve as a trustworthy partner for Ukraine not only in economic and political spheres but also in the field of security and defence. Taking into account the abovementioned, this article is aimed at analysing the legal framework of military cooperation mechanisms within the European Union as well as researching certain aspects of military cooperation between Ukraine and the EU within the framework of the Association Agreement. In this regard, the article deals with the fundamental principles of military cooperation between Ukraine and the EU (laid down in the provisions of the Association Agreement). It also defines the importance to intensify and strengthen such cooperation. Also, the features of cooperation between the EU member states within the framework of the common foreign and security policy, the common security and defence policy and the European Defence Agency were studied.