“Ukraine must independently engage with Asian democracies to keep them within the common sanctions framework. However, given their dependence on the United States, it is important to identify opportunities for engagement through European countries. In light of the volatile foreign policy of the U.S. and doubts about its commitment to allied obligations, Europeans—as a pillar of democracies—can become not only a guarantor for Ukraine, but also a platform for interaction among democracies that may be of interest to our Asian partners”

Nataliya Butyrska, Associate Senior Fellow at the New Europe Center, took part in the roundtable discussion “Sanctions 2026: A New Strategy of Economic Pressure on Russia”, organized by National Interests Advocacy Network «ANTS». The expert outlined the role of Asian democracies in the sanctions architecture and the challenges of preserving unity within the democratic camp.

In her remarks, Nataliya Butyrska focused on the positions of Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan, which joined the sanctions against Russia after the start of its full-scale aggression against Ukraine, but demonstrate different approaches and varying levels of resilience to economic and political pressure.

Special attention was given to Japan as Ukraine’s key partner in Asia, which consistently supports sanctions pressure on Russia and advocates for a just peace, recognizing the interconnection between the security of Europe and the Indo-Pacific region.

At the same time, emphasis was placed on the vulnerability of South Korea’s sanctions stance, where business economic interests and shifting political priorities create risks of a gradual return to cooperation with Russia amid signals of a possible easing of sanctions.

Speaking about Taiwan, Nataliya Butyrska underscored its interest in supporting Ukraine as part of broader democratic solidarity, while also drawing attention to the limited scope for bilateral engagement and growing uncertainty regarding security guarantees.

We thank Hanna Hopko and the Network “ANTS” for organizing the event and for the opportunity to participate.

PHOTO: ANTS Network.

The recording of the event is available below.