SOCIO-ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATIONS AND THE PRIORITY OF SECURITY OF UKRAINE'S PARTNER COUNTRIES UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF GEOPOLITICAL THREATS

The article identifies the problem of geopolitical threats to partner countries that have arisen as a result of full- scale military aggression by russia against Ukraine. It is substantiated that geopolitical threats lead to socio- economic transformations and increase the priority of ensuring national security. The ambiguous attitudes of certain countries toward the new challenges posed by geopolitical threats are noted. Adaptive response measures by partner countries to the challenges and threats of full-scale military aggression have been characterized, particularly regarding the strengthening of the defense sector—especially in the Baltic countries—in response to the imperial ambitions and strategic objectives of rf aimed at undermining their statehood, national security, and sovereignty. Based on an analysis of macroeconomic indicators, the influencing factors and economic consequences of the russian- ukrainian war have been determined using Lithuania as an example. The features of social transformation in Ukraine’s partner countries under the influence of geopolitical threats have been elucidated—namely, the dynamics of migration processes, demographic changes, transformations in the labor market and education sector, and government responses to the need for the social integration of Ukrainian refugees. It is concluded that geopolitical threats violate the principles of sustainable economic development—aimed at improving quality of life—and introduce new financial, social, ecological, and political challenges, the resolution of which requires a global consolidation of efforts by the international community and the adaptation of national socio-economic and security policies. In turn, the interdependence between economic development and security challenges under the influence of geopolitical threats necessitates that partner countries adopt flexible political decisions aimed at bolstering economic resilience, supporting social cohesion, and establishing effective crisis response mechanisms.