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Analysis of British and German Foreign Policy in the Russian-Ukrainian Conflict 2023-2024

Hasanuddin Journal of Strategic and International Studies · Vol. 4 No. 2 (2026) · pp. 123–140

DOI
10.20956/hjsis.v4i2.51183
ISSN
2963-1394
Published
2026-06-30
Publisher
Hasanuddin University
Language
en
License
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

Abstract

Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, reshaped European security and prompted divergent responses among Western powers. This study examines the foreign policy responses of the United Kingdom and Germany to the Russia-Ukraine conflict during 2023-2024, asking: what factors account for the differences in their approaches despite a shared commitment to supporting Ukraine? Employing Poliheuristic Theory and Rational Choice Theory, the study analyses how decision-makers in both countries evaluated policy alternatives across political, economic, security, and international dimensions. The findings reveal stark contrasts in decision-making processes and outcomes. The UK adopted a proactive, assertive stance, rapidly delivering military assistance, implementing broad economic sanctions, and maintaining consistent political support for Ukraine. British policy was driven by NATO alignment, post-Brexit strategic repositioning, and domestic political incentives favouring decisive action. Germany, by contrast, followed a cautious and incremental path, constrained by deep energy dependence on Russia, longstanding economic ties, and a diplomatic foreign policy culture. While Chancellor Scholz's Zeitenwende declaration signalled a historic shift in German defence policy, implementation was slowed by domestic political divisions and competing strategic priorities. The poliheuristic analysis shows that both states employed non-compensatory elimination strategies, rejecting options threatening core national interests, before optimising remaining alternatives based on strategic benefit and domestic political costs. The study concludes that foreign policy responses to security crises are fundamentally shaped by historical context, structural dependencies, domestic politics, and leadership style. While both nations ultimately supported Ukraine, their pathways differed significantly. These findings underscore that analysing decision-making processes, not merely outcomes, is essential for understanding how democratic states navigate shared security threats under competing constraints.

Keywords

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18 authors · 41 co-authorship links

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Co-authorOrganisationJoint articles
Stivani Ismawira SinambelaAffiliation unknown3
Della NurlaelaAffiliation unknown3
Husain AbdullahAffiliation unknown3
Munjin Syafik Asy'ariAffiliation unknown2
BurhanuddinAffiliation unknown2
Nurfarah NidatyaAffiliation unknown2
SaepudinAffiliation unknown2
Aldebaran Raihan RevidyAffiliation unknown2
Vioren Filadelfia TaoloAffiliation unknown1
Abdul Razaq CangaraAffiliation unknown1
Muhammad Nail RifqillahAffiliation unknown1
Muh. Nurfaiz FahmiAffiliation unknown1
Rani Purwanti RamliAffiliation unknown1
Nurnaningsih Al HasmiAffiliation unknown1

Affiliations come from OpenAlex; journal OAI-PMH metadata carries none. Authors without an OpenAlex ID are matched by name, which can merge or split people.

Metadata source: OAI-PMH (metadata jurnal) https://journal.unhas.ac.id/index.php/hjsis/oai, first harvested 2 Nov 2026, last seen 2 Nov 2026.
Original metadata (oai_dc) 
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	<dc:title xml:lang="en">Analysis of British and German Foreign Policy in the Russian-Ukrainian Conflict 2023-2024</dc:title>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Fathun, Laode Muhamad</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Rahmalia, Alfiyah Nur</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Chairunnisa, Audrey</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Lumumba, Patrice</dc:creator>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en">Foreign policy decision-making</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en">poliheuristic theory</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en">rational choice theory</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en">United Kingdom</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en">Germany</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en">Russia-Ukraine conflict</dc:subject>
	<dc:description xml:lang="en">Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, reshaped European security and prompted divergent responses among Western powers. This study examines the foreign policy responses of the United Kingdom and Germany to the Russia-Ukraine conflict during 2023-2024, asking: what factors account for the differences in their approaches despite a shared commitment to supporting Ukraine? Employing Poliheuristic Theory and Rational Choice Theory, the study analyses how decision-makers in both countries evaluated policy alternatives across political, economic, security, and international dimensions. The findings reveal stark contrasts in decision-making processes and outcomes. The UK adopted a proactive, assertive stance, rapidly delivering military assistance, implementing broad economic sanctions, and maintaining consistent political support for Ukraine. British policy was driven by NATO alignment, post-Brexit strategic repositioning, and domestic political incentives favouring decisive action. Germany, by contrast, followed a cautious and incremental path, constrained by deep energy dependence on Russia, longstanding economic ties, and a diplomatic foreign policy culture. While Chancellor Scholz's Zeitenwende declaration signalled a historic shift in German defence policy, implementation was slowed by domestic political divisions and competing strategic priorities. The poliheuristic analysis shows that both states employed non-compensatory elimination strategies, rejecting options threatening core national interests, before optimising remaining alternatives based on strategic benefit and domestic political costs. The study concludes that foreign policy responses to security crises are fundamentally shaped by historical context, structural dependencies, domestic politics, and leadership style. While both nations ultimately supported Ukraine, their pathways differed significantly. These findings underscore that analysing decision-making processes, not merely outcomes, is essential for understanding how democratic states navigate shared security threats under competing constraints.</dc:description>
	<dc:publisher xml:lang="en">Hasanuddin University</dc:publisher>
	<dc:date>2026-06-30</dc:date>
	<dc:type>info:eu-repo/semantics/article</dc:type>
	<dc:type>info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion</dc:type>
	<dc:format>application/pdf</dc:format>
	<dc:identifier>https://journal.unhas.ac.id/index.php/hjsis/article/view/51183</dc:identifier>
	<dc:identifier>10.20956/hjsis.v4i2.51183</dc:identifier>
	<dc:source xml:lang="en">Hasanuddin Journal of Strategic and International Studies; Vol. 4 No. 2 (2026); 123-140</dc:source>
	<dc:source>2963-1394</dc:source>
	<dc:source>10.20956/hjsis.v4i2</dc:source>
	<dc:language>en</dc:language>
	<dc:relation>https://journal.unhas.ac.id/index.php/hjsis/article/view/51183/14702</dc:relation>
	<dc:rights xml:lang="en">Copyright (c) 2026 Hasanuddin Journal of Strategic and International Studies (HJSIS)</dc:rights>
	<dc:rights xml:lang="en">https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0</dc:rights>
</oai_dc:dc>