The role of diplomatic institutions in the establishment of Ukrainian-Bulgarian interstate relations (1918–1921)

Abstract

The article describes the main approaches of activity of the Bulgarian diplomatic representation in the Ukrainian State and the Embassy of the Ukrainian State/ Ukrainian People’s Republic in the Bulgarian Kingdom. The aim of the research was to reconstruct the events associated with the establishment and development of UkrainianBulgarian diplomatic relations in 1918–1921, clarifying the role of the first Bulgarian representatives in Ukraine and Ukraine in Bulgaria (I.Shishmanov and O.Shul’hyn) in the implementation of the intergovernmental the agreements set forth in the Brest Peace Treaty, the defense of state interests and the protection of the rights of citizens of their countries. The track records of the Ukrainian and Foreign historiography were taken into consideration in the article are taken into account. The source database includes archival information, periodicals, memoirs of the direct participants of the events. Ukrainian-Bulgarian relations between the winter of 1918 and the summer of 1921 are considered as a successful attempt to establish interstate relations in accordance with the norms of international law. The diplomatic representatives of both countries received their credentials under the Brest Peace Treaty. It is indicated that the election of such a type of diplomatic representation as the embassy also testified tothe mutual respect of the states. The tasks of the diplomatic missions were also close, with obviously more marked economic interest from the Bulgarian side and political – from the Ukrainian one. The Ukrainian delegation made every effort to truly inform the Bulgarian society about the Ukrainian national idea and Ukraine’s struggle for state independence. The embassies of both countries have ceased their activities due to circumstances independent thereon (the Bulgarian Embassy existed for over seven months, while the Ukrainian Embassy existed for nearly three years), but facilitated the basis for interstate relationship between Ukraine and Bulgaria, featured by mutual recognition and mutual respect.