The EU's Strategic Dilemma in the Ukraine War provides a sober analysis of the European Union (EU)'s response to Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.The book, a timely addition to the SpringerBriefs series, situates the EU's actions within a classical realist framework, highlighting its struggle for strategic coherence in foreign policy and security.It directly builds on the foundations established by Jakupec in Dynamics of the Russo-Ukraine War (Springer) and The West's Response to the Russo-Ukraine War (Springer).Jakupec's main argument is that, despite a unified rhetorical front, the EU's response has been marked by significant internal disagreement, mainly because of the ongoing dominance of national interests over a shared strategic vision.Consequently, he argues, this results in a form of 'strategic dissonance' that leaves the EU on the sidelines of major geopolitical decisions, especially when compared with the more assertive, though complex, role played by the USA.The book guides the reader through a well-structured, evidence-based argument.It begins by examining the 'EU's dilemma' as a structural tension between its economic strength and its limited ability to act as a unified geopolitical actor.The EU's hybrid design, which balances supranational authority with national sovereignty, means that reaching a consensus is often challenging, as differing national interests and dependencies weaken collective decisions.This theme is then explored through detailed analyses of two key policy areas: sanctions and military aid.Jakupec's discussion of sanctions reveals a complex web of competing economic interests and energy dependencies, demonstrating how the need for unanimity hampers effectiveness.The chapter on military aid emphasises the structural fragmentation of the European defence landscape, characterised by reliance on national procurement and a lack of interoperability, which limits prospects for coordinated, large-scale joint action.The book's epilogue weaves these threads together, offering a stark conclusion that, despite its economic strength, Europe remains diplomatically and politically marginal in a crisis unfolding on its doorstep.One of the book's greatest strengths is its commitment to the realist paradigm.By intentionally emphasising the practical, often self-interested actions of individual member states, Jakupec provides a persuasive counternarrative to more idealistic interpretations of EU solidarity.His analysis of the EU's foreign and security policy as a battleground for national agendas is compelling.The book's conciseness is also an advantage; it is a focused, information-rich text that avoids unnecessary words, making it a valuable resource for students and analysts.Nevertheless, the book's strict focus on a realist perspective also constitutes its main limitation.Its analysis is strongly centred on identifying Europe's immediate weaknesses and structural constraints, and in doing so, it overlooks possible longer-term developments.While Jakupec
G. Shaw (Mon,) studied this question.