Proceedings of the International scientific and practical conference ―Cambridge Congress of Advanced Studies‖ (April 3-5, 2026) / Publisher website: www.naukainfo.com. - Cambridge, United Kingdom, 2026. - 350 p.

48 caused significant price increases and forced regional countries to seek alternative energy sources, including renewable energy and local energy projects. The region‘s economic challenges are closely linked to global processes, particularly integration into international markets, financial crises, and investment flows. In the security sphere, Eastern Europe is directly affected by geopolitical risks. The prolonged military aggression of Russia against Ukraine has become a key factor in the reassessment of national and regional security strategies. States in the region actively work on strengthening their defense capabilities, expanding military alliances, and participating in collective security systems such as NATO. Alongside conventional military threats, the region faces hybrid challenges, including cyberattacks, disinformation campaigns, and terrorism-related risks. These factors stimulate the development of regional coordination mechanisms and joint crisis- response strategies. Environmental issues also exert a significant influence on regional processes. Eastern Europe faces high levels of air pollution, shortages of clean water, and the consequences of climate change, including droughts and floods. According to the European Environment Agency, air pollution levels in certain cities of Ukraine and Poland exceed World Health Organization recommendations by three to four times. These environmental challenges are closely interconnected with economic and social processes, emphasizing the need for regional cooperation in the fields of sustainable development and climate adaptation. In this context, Ukraine and the Black Sea region have become key elements of the transformation of the Eastern European regional system of international relations. The ongoing Russian aggression against Ukraine has significantly altered regional security dynamics and strengthened the strategic importance of the Black Sea area for European and global stability. The war has accelerated defense cooperation between Eastern European states and Euro-Atlantic institutions while also highlighting the necessity of strengthening regional energy security, maritime safety, and political coordination within the broader European security architecture.