What Type of Power Has the EU Exercised in the Ukraine-Russia Crisis?

The international system today is transforming. The liberal world order is coming under threat on various fronts with the rise and growth of non-democratic states, violent and criminal non-state actors, asymmetric conflict, and cyber war, among other things.  For the European Union (EU), increasing Russian aggression and disregard for international law through its encroachments into Ukraine is chief among these threats.  As a result of this climate of uncertainty and insecurity, many states are reverting to less cooperative forms of interaction in the international system.  It would seem that structural power is experiencing a resurgence.  How does this international climate shape the EU as a foreign policy actor?  

We first provide a brief overview of the main events in the Russia-Ukraine crisis, and highlight the role the EU has played in reacting to these events.  Second, we outline the characteristics of the EU as a foreign policy actor, especially emphasizing its disaggregated nature.  We recognize that EU power overall is essentially comprised of the power of its component parts.  Third, we lay out our framework of analysis, providing an approach that anticipates whether events are likely to constrain or enable the exercise of EU power.  We begin with the argument that international crises, as critical junctures, may trigger change in the EU, and we draw upon classic theories of power in the international relations literature in order to situate our understanding of the EU as a viable actor alongside others in the international system.