European Commissioner Kubilius called for Ukraine's integration into the European Defense Union

The European Union must overcome its strategic fragmentation and include Ukraine in the European Defense Union (EDU) currently being established, without delay and without waiting for full membership in the EU or NATO. 

European Commissioner for Defense and Space Andrius Kubilius put forward this initiative during his speech at the European Defense and Security Summit in Brussels. He emphasized that, thanks to a radical transformation of its military doctrine and innovations, the Armed Forces of Ukraine are successfully deterring Russian aggression. 

The official called Ukraine’s defense-industrial complex one of the most innovative in the world, citing as examples the rapid scaling up and integration of unmanned systems and the experience in countering high-intensity drone attacks. According to Kubilius, it is in the West’s vital interest to integrate the Ukrainian army into the European security architecture. The very idea of creating a new defense alliance involves establishing a common single market for weapons based on a special intergovernmental treaty, in which, in addition to EU member states, the United Kingdom, Canada, Norway, and Turkey could also participate.

In addition, the European Commissioner announced concrete steps Brussels will take in this direction. As early as next week, the European Commission plans to publish initial detailed proposals for deeper integration of the European arms market. By the end of this year, the Commission will also present an official package of amendments to existing defense procurement rules and other market regulations, which will simplify investment in the defense sector and allow Ukrainian manufacturers to participate in joint European projects. Kubilius sees the transformation of the E5 group of countries into an “informal Security Council” that will coordinate the launch of the new defense structure as a key step in this reform.

This is reported by The Guardian.

Kubilius noted that Ukraine has the strongest army in Europe.

“Ukraine has won the battle for the Black Sea, and the Russian fleet has been driven into its ports,” said Kubilius.