The aftermath of the fall of the Berlin Wall and the disintegration of the USSR opened a perspective of brighter days for a new Europe. The thirst to develop a closer relationship with its closest neighbours, and the idea of allowing other countries to integrate with the EU became more realistic.

This DCU led study aims to analyse security within Europe’s Eastern Partnership as perceived from the outside–notably by Russia. It analyses the impact of Russia’s security on European security thinking in its Eastern Partnership through the lens of ontological security. Ontological security is a concept used in the study of international relations which helps researchers understand the emotional undercurrent of the apprehensions and fears of citizens.

Russia’s relationship with the West, based on its ontological security fears, is characterised by the collective trauma and stigma of USSR disintegration. Europe’s ontological security anxiety and fear in its relationship with Russia is caused by the wars in Georgia and Ukraine, as well as Russia’s hybrid warfare. This article analyses the EU’s policy and practices following the war in Ukraine (in two phases in 2014 and 2022) in the Eastern Neighbourhood.