Shevchenko A. M. The economy of Budzhak in the Ottoman-Tatar period (late 15th – early 19th centuries)
Shevchenko A. M. The economy of Budzhak in the Ottoman-Tatar period (late 15th – early 19th centuries). – Kamianets-Podilskyi: FOP Pankova A. S., 2024. – 96 p.: ill. (In ukrainian)
ISBN 978-617-7773-71-8
The popular science publication examines the main stages and features of the formation of the economic system of Budjak during its Ottoman-Tatar development (15th – early 19th centuries). The main attention is paid to the legal, economic, and resettlement aspects of the regional policy of the Ottoman state regarding the transformation of the region into a developed center of commodity cattle breeding and agriculture, which became one of the main suppliers of food to Istanbul. The features of commodity and semi-commodity relations in Budjak are determined, the historical, climatic, geopolitical, and ethnosocial factors that ensured the development of traditional industries for the region are traced, and the role of the cities of Budjak in the trade system of the Northern Black Sea region of that time is analyzed. Recommended for researchers, teachers, students, and everyone interested in the history of Budjak in the Islamic era.
Roundtable discussion: “Nuclear Security and the Protection of Ukraine Amid U.S.-China Strategic Rivalry”
We invite you to register for the upcoming roundtable discussion: “Nuclear Security and the Protection of Ukraine Amid U.S.-China Strategic Rivalry”.
Date: August 11, 2025, at 17:00 Kyiv time
Format: Virtual roundtable hosted by the Ukrainian Platform for Contemporary China
This event will focus on analyzing Ukraine’s nuclear security in the context of the ongoing full-scale war and the broader geopolitical competition between the United States and China. Participants will explore major threats, the approaches of key global powers, and the role of international institutions in mitigating risks and strengthening global cooperation.
Speakers include:
- Nicholas Roth (Nuclear Threat Initiative)
- Mariana Budjeryn (Belfer Center, Harvard University)
- Yanliang Pan (James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies, Middlebury Institute)
- Lili Voytovych (Hertie School, Germany)
https://ua-china.org/?events=
Seminar “The Devī Māhātmya: Narrative and Structure”
“Niemand kann alleine kämpfen” “Nobody can struggle alone” “Ніхто не може боротися наодинці”: an Egyptological volume on behalf of Ukraine
The war of Russia against Ukraine is also a war against a culture, and for this reason it affects even a small subject like Egyptology. Twenty-four authors from eight countries have come together to contribute to a volume that intends to display our solidarity with Ukraine and to make plain that all of us seek actively to sustain cultures – in our case the understanding of that of the Nile with its more than three millennia of history – through engagement and shared conversations. By means of this joint undertaking we wish to counter brute force with the self-evident necessity of cultural exchange, both in our field of study and beyond.
M. Tarasenko, L. Morenz, J. Baines (ed.) “Niemand kann alleine kämpfen” “Nobody can struggle alone” “Ніхто не може боротися наодинці”: an Egyptological volume on behalf of Ukraine. Bonner Ägyptologische Beiträge. Bd. 14. Berlin. 2024
ISBN-10 386893443X
ISBN-13 978-3868934434
Roundtable “Mineral Deals as a New Diplomatic Tool: Ukraine, China, the EU, and the U.S.”
Dear colleagues,
We are glad to announce our upcoming roundtable “Mineral Deals as a New Diplomatic Tool: Ukraine, China, the EU, and the U.S.” on the Ukrainian Platform for Contemporary China.
Date: May 22
Time: 3:00 PM (Kyiv time) | 8:00 AM (Eastern Time)
Format: Online discussion (in English, registration required)
Speakers:
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Ivan Us – Chief Consultant, Center for Foreign Policy, National Institute for Strategic Studies (Ukraine)
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Xu Qinduo – Journalist at CGTN, Senior Fellow at the Pangoal Institution (China)
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Jim Mullinax – Senior Foreign Service Officer, Diplomatic Fellow (United States)
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Grzegorz Stec – Head of Brussels Office, Senior Analyst at MERICS (European Union)
Moderator: Kaiser Kuo, Co-founder of the Sinica Podcast
The international round table “China’s Strategy in Global Power Transitions: Challenges in a Turbulent World”
On February 19, 2025, the international round table “China’s Strategy in Global Power Transitions: Challenges in a Turbulent World” was held at the Ukrainian Platform for Contemporary China.
Organizers:
- A. Krymskyi Institute of Oriental Studies, NAS of Ukraine
- Ukrainian Association of Sinologists
- Sinica Podcast
- Publishing House “Helvetica”
Speakers:
- Klaus Larres, Distinguished Professor of History & International Affairs, University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill, U.S.
- Qiang Liu, Secretary-General of the Global Forum on Energy Security, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, P.R.C.
- Una Aleksandra Bērziņa-Čerenkova, Director of the China Studies Centre, Riga Stradins University, Latvia
- Dmytro Yefremov, Board Member, Ukrainian Association of Sinologists, Ukraine
The event was moderated by Kaiser Kuo, host and co-founder of the Sinica Podcast.
Kaiser Kuo noted that as the Russo-Ukrainian war enters its fourth year, the conflict has reshaped the global order, exposing vulnerabilities, shifting alliances, and forcing major powers to reassess their strategies. He highlighted that the Biden administration’s approach to China and its strong support for Ukraine are now history, with President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth charting a new and uncertain course. Trump’s recent conversation with Putin signals potential realignments that will have far-reaching consequences for Ukraine, Europe, the Asia-Pacific, and global power dynamics.
Una Aleksandra Bērziņa-Čerenkova outlined two main risks for small states like Latvia due to Trump’s rapprochement with Russia. Increased security threat as the first risk. The Baltic states have relied on collective defense, but confidence in NATO’s security guarantees has been shaken, raising concerns about a potential Russian invasion. And a new “Iron Curtain” as the second. Trump’s undermining of the transatlantic alliance threatens European stability, as long-standing trust in U.S. commitments weakens.
Regarding China-Russia ties, she highlighted two red flags for the Baltics: both Russia and China view NATO expansion eastward as a provocation, and China’s former ambassador to France, Lu Shaye, questioned the sovereignty of post-Soviet states, raising concerns in the region.
Dmytro Yefremov argued that Russia and China are not looking like true allies. If the U.S. normalizes relations with Moscow, Washington will fully shift its focus to countering China. In this scenario, Russia could adopt a more neutral stance or even work to covertly contain China. He also mentioned the recent China-Ukraine diplomatic meeting at the Munich Security Conference, where President Zelenskyy suggested that for the first time, China appeared interested in pressuring Russia to end the war. Beijing may strategically seek to exploit the emerging opportunities presented by the deepening rift between the United States and Ukraine, positioning itself to capitalize on potential shifts in geopolitical dynamics. China might be using this opportunity to restore ties with the EU while ensuring it is not sidelined from future Ukraine-Russia negotiations.
Qiang Liu stated that China does not view the war in Ukraine as a core issue but rather a European conflict. He emphasized that China’s energy security is not at risk, despite buying Russian resources, as Beijing has diversified its energy imports. He also noted that for the first time in years, China’s oil consumption declined in 2024, largely due to the growth of alternative energy sources. Regarding diplomacy, he reaffirmed that China seeks to avoid conflicts and maintain friendly relations with all countries.
Klaus Larres pointed out that Trump’s approach to Ukraine sidelines key stakeholders, particularly European countries, despite their significant financial support for Kyiv. He argued that Europe must be included in peace negotiations, but so far, it has been largely ignored. The scholar also stated that a Sino-Russian split remains unlikely, despite U.S. efforts. China is unlikely to be brought into Ukraine negotiations but will likely play a role in post-war reconstruction.
Kaiser Kuo added that unlike during the Mao era, when border conflicts strained relations, there is no reason for a Sino-Russian split today. China benefits from watching the Western alliance weaken, and the idea of European strategic autonomy now seems more realistic.
Klaus Larres drew a historical parallel between Trump and Nixon, stating that Nixon’s diplomatic approach to China and the Soviet Union was carefully planned over years, while Trump’s actions appear reactionary and chaotic. China has an opportunity to rebuild relations with the EU, but this will likely focus on economic ties rather than a formal alliance.
Una highlighted Chinese narratives that portray European support for Ukraine as a challenge to peacebuilding. She noted that Ursula von der Leyen’s speech at this year’s Munich Conference took a softer stance on China, signaling a potential shift in EU-China relations.
About China’s role in post-war reconstruction:
Dmytro Yefremov stated that China’s entry into peacebuilding is too late, as Ukrainian public opinion remains largely negative toward Beijing, seeing it as Russia’s ally. However, Ukraine’s leadership views China as a potential investor in logistics and energy sectors. Key sectors likely to attract Chinese interest in Ukraine encompass not only logistics and transportation networks, but also agricultural infrastructure and potentially renewable energy, as China seeks to expand its influence in these strategically significant domains.
Qiang Liu emphasized that China could play a role in post-war reconstruction, but likely through European partnerships rather than direct investments in Ukraine. Qiang also noted that two of the six BRI corridors have been destroyed by the war, making it harder for Chinese goods to reach Europe via Russia. China will work on revitalizing the BRI projects in Ukraine.
Klaus Larres siad that Germany will likely prioritize its role in Ukraine’s reconstruction over China, as Berlin poses no political risks for Kyiv, unlike Beijing.
What Trump’s Tilt Toward Russia Means for China.
U.S. President Donald Trump’s negotiations with Russia are not only occurring at Ukraine’s expense but also carry broader implications for China. Historically, the opposite was true – Henry Kissinger’s strategic opening to China contributed to the Soviet Union’s eventual collapse. Now, the Trump administration is playing a calculated game with Russia, aiming to secure economic benefits such as cheaper raw materials while attempting to reshape Sino-Russian relations. The goal appears to be to pull Moscow away from Beijing and weaken their growing alignment.
However, a repeat of the Sino-Russian split seems unlikely in today’s geopolitical landscape, as both Russia and China remain skeptical of Trump’s erratic foreign policy and question the reliability of U.S. commitments.
Trump’s confrontational stance toward Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been a political shock for both Ukraine and Europe. Notably, the Trump administration, whether intentionally or not, has adopted China’s rhetoric over the past three years, referring to the Russia-Ukraine War merely as a “conflict” and promoting peace through negotiations with Russia. This approach was first put forward by China in February 2023 and has since been aggressively pushed through state-controlled media and diplomatic channels, including special envoy Li Hui. Now the Trump administration has repackaged this strategy in a more unilateral manner, with a key difference – amid Russia-U.S. talks, Ukraine and Europe are largely excluded from the decision-making process. The fate of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity is being discussed behind closed doors, without its participation.
ХХVIII A. Krymskyi Memorial Conference on Oriental Studies
Dear colleagues!
We kindly invite academicians and lecturers, postgraduate and master’s degree students to participate in the ХХVIII A. Krymskyi Memorial Conference on Oriental Studies.
The conference will be held on June 26–27, 2025.
Discussion panels are planned to cover the following issues:
- History and Cultures of Eastern Countries;
- Religions and Philosophical Doctrines of the Peoples of the East;
- Asian and Middle Eastern Languages and Literatures;
- Nomads of the Great Steppe;
- History and Culture of the Crimea and the Black Sea Region;
- Oriental Artіfacts in Ukraine;
- Political, Economic, and Socio-Cultural Development of Eastern Countries in the Modern Age;
- History and Cultures of Indigenous Peoples, Ethno-Confessional Minorities of Eastern Descent Living in Ukraine;
- Jewish studies;
- History of Oriental Studies.
Presentation languages: Ukrainian, English. The presentation must be no longer than 15 minutes.
The conference will be held in a mixed format.
Participation is free of charge.
Applications are accepted until June 1, 2025:
To apply, please:
- fill in the registration form (in English) at: https://forms.gle/yt1NnxeLbQRgxXdD7
- send your presentation abstract to chytkrymskogo@gmail.com
For details please see the attachment.
The scientific journal Chinese Studies is accessible via the academic platform Taiwan Academic Classics
The ‘Chinese Studies’ is a scientific journal which is jointly issued by the A. Yu. Krymskyi Institute of Oriental Studies (National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine), the Ukrainian Association of Sinologists, and the Kyiv National Economic University named after Vadym Hetman, in cooperation with the Helvetica Publishing House. The journal publishes articles on current issues of Chinese history and contemporary development of China, the study of Chinese language and literature, the study of China’s contacts with other countries of Asia and Ukraine, historiographical reviews and critique, as well as information on scientific conferences. The journal publishes articles of domestic and foreign authors, as well as translations of historical, religious and literary sources of China. Since November 2020, the journal is included in the List of scientific professional publications of Ukraine category B in the field of philosophical, philological, political and economic sciences (specialties 033 “Philosophy”, 035 “Philology”, 051 “Economics”, 052 “Political Science”, 071 “Accounting and taxation”, 072 “Finance, Banking and Insurance”, 073 “Management”, 075 “Marketing”, 076 “Entrepreneurship, Trade and Exchange Activities”, 292 “International Economic Relations”). And since November 2024, the journal has been presented on the academic platform ‘Taiwan Academic Classics’.
This partnership creates new opportunities for the international dissemination of Sino studies, enhances the recognition of Ukrainian sinology within the global academic community, and establishes a solid foundation for advancing interdisciplinary research in Chinese studies.
From now on, scholarly articles published in the journal ‘Chinese Studies’ are accessible to readers and researchers worldwide on the ‘Taiwan Academic Classics’ platform.
XVIII International scientific conference “Chinese Civilization: Traditions and Modernity”
Dear colleagues!
We kindly invite you to take part in the XVIII International scientific conference “Chinese Civilization: Traditions and Modernity”, which will be held on November 14, 2024.