The role of international contracts in the international business management system within the context of wartime Ukraine

The article clarifies the theoretical foundations and supports an approach to concluding international contracts as a tool for managing international business under wartime conditions. The study employs methods such as logical analysis and generalization, as well as grouping and comparison. The study analyzes existing approaches to concluding and implementing international contracts and substantiates their role within the international business management system. The study systematizes the specific features of concluding international contracts in Ukraine during wartime. The study outlines the functions of international contracts, specifically: planning, organizational, regulatory, informational, motivational, integrative, security-related, communicative, coordinative, adaptive, guarantee-related, and control functions. The study defines the structure of the adaptive international business management system, comprising the following subsystems: strategic management; tactical management; information management; financial management; logistics management; risk management; international business relations management; operational management; crisis management; and control. The study substantiates directions for transforming contract management under wartime conditions. Its scientific novelty lies in refining the approach to establishing an adaptive international business management system by treating international contracts as an integrated tool for coordinating and enhancing the efficiency of an enterprise’s economic, logistical, financial, and trade operations, while accounting for transformations in the wartime business environment. Future research in this area should focus on developing a mechanism for managing enterprises’ international contractual activities. Keywords: international business, international contracts, management, international business management, adaptive management system for international business.