American Research Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences

The Russia-Ukraine conflict remains one of the most critical geopolitical crises of the 21st century, significantly affecting global power dynamics and international relations. This article employs a dual theoretical framework Realism and Liberalism to explore the motivations and actions of Russia and Ukraine. Realism focuses on Russia’s state-centric power politics, driven by national security concerns and territorial ambitions. In contrast, Liberalism highlights Ukraine’s diplomatic engagements and international cooperation through institutions like NATO and the EU. By comparing these perspectives, this paper provides a comprehensive understanding of the conflict, contributing to the broader discussion of international relations theory and conflict resolution strategies. This analysis ultimately calls for a hybrid approach that leverages both the power politics of Realism and the cooperative mechanisms of Liberalism to address modern geopolitical crises.