PAWEŁ PASIERBIAK https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0885-1462 Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin EVOLUTION OF UKRAINE’S INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC TIES IN THE 21 ST CENTURY Since gaining independence in 1991, Ukraine has been involved in the interna- tional division of labor, participating in international trade and global capital flows. As a result, the degree of its involvement in the global economy has changed, and the country’s relatively high economic potential has provided grounds for optimistic forecasts. Since the beginning of the 21 st century, the conditions for the functioning of national economies have become highly complex and highly variable. is was particularly true for Ukraine, which has been struggling with internal and external challenges. e study’s main objective is to describe the evolution of Ukraine’s international economic ties aſter 2000 and indicate the most critical determinants of its develop- ment. To achieve the aim of the study, several research methods were used, including a critical analysis of the subject literature, the method of inference based on statistical data, and the analytical-descriptive method. e time scope of the study covers the years 2000–2023, and the subject covers foreign trade and capital flows in the form of foreign direct investment. e analysis of the development of Ukraine’s international economic ties con- ducted in this study gives a rather pessimistic picture of the situation. In the analyzed areas, i.e., international trade and foreign direct investment flows, the Ukrainian economy is experiencing unfavorable changes. 1. Introduction e gaining of independence by Ukraine in 1991 was a turning point in its po- litical and economic development. e expressed desire to integrate with the world economy and to join the international division of labor provided a basis for for- mulating optimistic forecasts regarding the position that Ukraine could achieve in