ContentsRussian threat requires defense industry integration between Ukraine and the EUBraveTech EU and tech cooperationKyiv’s transformation: New functions for the Defense MinistryWindow of opportunity: Ukraine as a living laboratory for future warfareRussia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine marked a point of no return for European security. The continent’s geopolitical map is rapidly evolving, and Ukraine is now at the center—not only holding off the aggressor, but also shaping a new model of warfare, a new logic for the defense industry, and a new paradigm of alliance.Russian threat requires defense industry integration between Ukraine and the EUEuropean leaders increasingly recognize that the Russian threat is not a short-term episode, but a long-term geopolitical reality. This has triggered a strategic reassessment of security policies across the EU.Discussions once considered taboo—such as Austria abandoning neutrality and joining NATO—are becoming real possibilities. Europe is waking up to the urgent need to drastically bolster its own defense capabilities. A cornerstone of this process must be deep, systemic integration between Ukraine’s defense-industrial complex and the broader European defense ecosystem.In practice, however, this integration remains far from complete. Ukraine’s private companies—responsible for major innovations in drones, electronic warfare, intelligence, and strike capabilities—are still largely excluded from Europe’s core defense programs. Despite political rhetoric about a “historic partnership,” Ukraine’s actual access to the European Defence Fund (EDF), the ReArm Europe initiative, and other EU programs remains limited, fragmented, and often symbolic.The reasons are complex: legal ambiguity, bureaucratic inertia, and institutional resistance all play a role. One initiative deserves special attention: the SAFE (Security Action for Europe) program, approved by the Council of the EU in May 2025. SAFE unlocks up to €150 billion for joint procurement, production scaling, and investments in critical defense technologies.For the first time ever, the EU has opened such a program to a third country—Ukraine—on almost equal terms. But new requirements have also emerged: at least 65% of SAFE-funded components must originate from within the EU or accredited partner countries. This means Ukrainian companies will need to either localize part of their production in Europe or create flexible mechanisms for co-production with EU partners.BraveTech EU and tech cooperationThis context makes joint initiatives like BraveTech EU vital for accelerating integration. BraveTech EU is a new Ukraine-EU initiative designed to scale military innovation and strengthen shared defense capabilities.Ukraine’s Brave1 cluster—launched two years ago—has already become the country’s largest investor in defense tech, awarding over ₴2.2 billion in grants to startups. Now, that success story is going European.“We’re launching the European Brave—where we’ll continue investing in both Ukrainian and European projects with a dedicated budget. We’re building a joint market for defense startups,” said Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine’s First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Transformation, at the BraveTech EU launch.Initially, Ukraine and the EU will each invest €50 million. Additional countries are expected to join, significantly growing the fund over time. Previously, European companies had solutions but lacked an easy way to work with Ukraine. Now, for the first time, a joint EU defense startup hub is being created—a space where innovation can be tested and scaled to meet front-line needs.From day one, BraveTech EU is focused on breakthrough technologies: autonomous combat systems, countermeasures against precision glide bombs (KABs), and fiber-optic-controlled drones. These aren’t theoretical projects—they’re immediate battlefield solutions.BraveTech EU has the potential to become a "European DARPA"—but with a more practical focus. Its key distinction: Ukrainian companies aren’t subcontractors—they’re equal partners. That’s critical, because the Ukrainian front is now the world’s proving ground for next-generation military technology, from FPV drone swarms and tactical AI to cyberattacks and hybrid fire-control systems.While still more concept than structure, now is the moment to define BraveTech EU’s mission, rules, and cooperation principles—to ensure real integration, not token inclusion. Without that, “European DARPA” will remain little more than a slogan.Kyiv’s transformation: New functions for the Defense MinistryKyiv, too, is undergoing a strategic transformation. The Ukrainian government recently dissolved the Ministry of Strategic Industries (MinStrategProm), transferring its functions to the Ministry of Defense (MoD).The MoD is now not only a buyer of arms but also the coordinator of the entire defense-industrial system, with a new mandate to lead on defense tech, innovation, and production scaling.This is a logical move: the MoD can link front-line needs with technology and investment strategy. But it’s also a major institutional challenge. The Ministry lacks traditional capacity for working with the private sector, stimulating R&D, assessing tech risks, or building international project cooperation.To succeed, Ukraine needs to create a new management ecosystem—one with anti-corruption safeguards, business-friendly partnerships, and EU-style decision-making procedures.Corruption risks remain a major threat. Procurement scandals, unethical lobbying, and bureaucratic inefficiency erode trust—not just with partners, but among Ukrainians themselves. Worst of all, they undermine the heroism of soldiers and the ingenuity of battlefield engineers.That’s why political backing at the highest level is crucial. Andrius Kubilius—EU Commissioner for Defense and Space, and former Prime Minister of Lithuania—has repeatedly emphasized that integrating Ukraine into EU defense policy is not about "helping a partner," but ensuring Europe’s own survival.In a recent interview, Kubilius stated plainly: “Only powerful defense capabilities can deter Putin’s plans to attack us. And those capabilities must be built with Ukraine.”He is one of the key architects behind SAFE and a major advocate for defense credit programs that could usher in a European military-industrial renaissance.Window of opportunity: Ukraine as a living laboratory for future warfareSimply put, the window of opportunity is open—but time is not on Europe’s side. The faster Ukrainian companies are integrated into EU defense funding and coordination mechanisms, the stronger Europe’s collective defense will be.But several critical steps are still required.The EU must finalize its defense strategy. It cannot rely on crisis responses and half-measures. A long-term vision is needed—for both joint capabilities and joint industrial policy. The EU must prevent fragmentation, duplication, or excessive national protectionism. Clear rules for production, procurement, funding, and coordination are essential. And Ukraine must be part of this—not as a third-party observer, but as a full-fledged contributor.Ukraine must continue its internal transformation. That includes redefining the Ministry of Defense’s role in managing the defense industry and implementing modern anti-corruption reforms in the defense sector. Without this, integration into European structures will remain symbolic.Ukrainians must be included in relevant EU institutions now. That means representation in the European Defence Agency, EDF, SAFE, Readiness 2030, and other industrial policy platforms. Waiting for EU membership before granting participation is a clear mistake.Ukraine today is the world’s operational laboratory for future warfare. If Europe truly seeks strategic autonomy, it must do more than invest in Ukrainian technology.It must invest in Ukrainians as equal partners.Because the new strategic line of European defense runs through Ukraine. If that line holds, a new European security architecture can emerge.But only if Ukraine is treated as a partner—not as a subcontractor, and not as a spectator.Prepared in collaboration with the Consortium for Defense Information (CDI), a project bringing together Ukrainian research institutions to strengthen the information and analytical foundation of national security, defense, and geopolitics.