ORIENTASI KEBIJAKAN UKRAINA PEMERINTAH ZELENSKY: KEANGGOTAAN NATO MEMBENDUNG PENGARUH RUSIA

This research aims to explain Zelensky's pro-Western views in Ukraine's membership of NATO in 2021. This cannot be separated from Zelensky's threat perception due to Russia's confrontational attitude and intervention in Ukraine's internal conflict. There are several main indicators why threat perceptions arise, namely: (i) Distrust of policy-making actors, (ii) Geographical proximity, (iii) Past trauma, and (iv) Greater enemy capabilities. So whether there is danger or not, Ukraine is taking defensive actions to strengthen the country's capabilities. Thus, Ukraine is able to deal with unexpected events in the future, the phenomenon of the 2014 Crimean annexation conflict does not repeat itself, and is free from Russian intervention as in the previous year. The research method used by the author in writing this thesis is a qualitative research method with an explanatory model. The results of this research are that Zelensky's policy in NATO membership is an action to strengthen the country's capabilities. Because Russia has been proven to have taken confrontational actions and intervened in Ukraine's internal conflict, such as supporting separatists and the 2014 annexation of Crimea.