The primary objective of this article is to comprehensively explore the evolution of the Ukrainian political thought throughout the transformative years after World War I.

The methodology is based on the basic principles of historicism, objectivity, multifactoriality and a comprehensive approach. Scientific novelty: On the basis of a wide range of sources, the Ukrainian Cause that was centered around the idea of establishing an independent Ukrainian state and protecting the rights and interests of the Ukrainian people is studied.

During the 1917-1918, the UPR along with the Ukrainian Central Council and Petrograd had a complex and evolving relationship. The Ukrainian Central Council emerged as a representative body for the Ukrainian people, striving for autonomy and later independence and initially sought to cooperate with the Russian Provisional Government in Petrograd. They aimed to secure recognition of Ukrainian autonomy within a federalized Russian state. The UPR's leaders, including M. Hrushevsky, engaged in negotiations with Petrograd officials to advance the Ukrainian Cause. However, tensions soon arose between the Ukrainian Central Council and Petrograd. The Russian Provisional Government had reservations about granting significant autonomy to Ukraine. This divergence of interests strained the relationship between the Ukrainian Central Council and Petrograd. Amidst these developments, the Ukrainian Central Council issued the I Universal in June 1917, which declared the autonomy of Ukraine within the Russian state. This move aimed to lay the groundwork for Ukrainian self-governance and protect the interests of the Ukrainian people. Nevertheless, as the Russian Revolution progressed and the Bolsheviks gained power, the Ukrainian Central Council grew disillusioned with Petrograd's stance. The council sought greater independence from Russia and issued the II Universal in November 1917, proclaiming the establishment of the Ukrainian People's Republic as a sovereign state. This declaration signaled a definitive break from Petrograd and a determined pursuit of Ukrainian independence. Petrograd's Bolshevik government saw the Ukrainian People's Republic as a threat to their authority and engaged in military interventions against it. By early 1918, the relationship between the Ukrainian Central Council, UPR, and Petrograd had completely broken down. The Ukrainian Central Council, representing the aspirations of the Ukrainian people, declared full independence from Russia. This marked the beginning of a protracted struggle for Ukrainian independence, as the Ukrainian People's Republic faced military interventions from both the Bolsheviks and foreign powers.

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