Ukraine as a Scientific-Technological, Economic, and Logistical Bridge between China and the European Union -

Article

Open Access

by Serhii Muravitskyi¹
¹ Applied Technology Research Institute (Chongqing, China)
DOI: https://doi.org/10.29202/up/17/5
Received: 3 August 2025 / Accepted: 24 October 2025 / Published: 30 December 2025

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Abstract

Ukraine possesses a unique geo-economic, logistical, and scientific-technological potential that allows it to be regarded as a natural and strategically important intermediary – a «bridge» – between the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the European Union (EU). This article provides a comprehensive analysis of the structural factors determining this role: its advantageous geographical position at the intersection of Eurasian transport corridors, deep integration into trans-European and regional logistical networks, the impact of the full-scale invasion by the Russian Federation in 2022 on the transformation of supply routes and logistical chains, and the preserved significant scientific-technological potential of the country, including leading competencies in superhard materials, aerospace technologies, robotics, digital developments, and applied materials science. Particular attention is devoted to the institutional history of Ukrainian-Chinese cooperation from the late 20th century to the present, contemporary sustainable formats of scientific-technological interaction (such as joint laboratories and research institutes based at leading Ukrainian universities, including cooperation with Huawei), analysis of unrealised projects and institutional lessons, priority areas of cooperation in civilian and high-technology sectors, and the prospects for Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction as a multi-level platform for market expansion, attraction of investment, and deepening of international technological and economic cooperation. The theoretical and methodological foundation of the study is based on the concept of the «bridge state», approaches of geo-economics, and science diplomacy, which enables a comprehensive justification of Ukraine’s capacity to perform the functions of a multi-level connecting link between European and Asian economic, logistical, regulatory, and technological systems, ensuring the convergence of standards, knowledge transfer, the formation of sustainable value-added chains, and the balance of interests among key global actors.

Keywords: Ukraine, People’s Republic of China, European Union, geo-economics, bridge state, science diplomacy

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Muravitskyi, Serhii (2025) Ukraine as a Scientific-Technological, Economic, and Logistical Bridge between China and the European Union. Ukrainian Policymaker, Volume 17, 65-77. https://doi.org/10.29202/up/17/5

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