"Ukraine Is Changing NATO's Military Mindset."
- 6.02.2026, 23:17
The war in Ukraine was a catalyst for change for armies around the world.
European countries should strengthen defense capabilities and strategic autonomy while maintaining ties with the United States, and respond more quickly to Russian threats.
This was announced by British Ambassador to Ukraine Neil Crompton during a speech at a special session of the Kyiv Security Forum (KFB) "12 Years of War. What Next?" held on February 6. The video of the speech was published on the YouTube channel Open Ukraine.
The ambassador stressed that many European countries are undergoing "epochal changes" in defense policy. Investment in the army has increased significantly, particularly in Germany and other EU countries, realizing that Ukraine's security is integral to the security of Europe.
Crompton noted that Britain, along with France and other partners, is coordinating security guarantees for Ukraine through a "coalition of the willing." This is not just about sanctions, but also about modernizing the armed forces, developing a nuclear deterrent and strengthening conventional armies.
"What has happened has fundamentally changed the strategic thinking in Britain about rebuilding our nuclear deterrent capacity and strengthening conventional forces," the diplomat said.
He also emphasized that any negotiations are possible only when Ukraine has confidence in a powerful and immediate response to Russia's new aggression.
"You [Ukraine] have the best army in Europe, the greatest combat experience. We are all learning from you. You have already changed NATO's approach to warfare," Crompton noted.
This view was echoed by U.S. Gen. David Petraeus, a member of the CFB Council, noting that the war in Ukraine has been a catalyst for change for armies around the world. He stressed the need to quickly learn from the Ukrainian experience, particularly in the areas of unmanned systems, troop organization, and innovation.
- Ukraine is already demonstrating what the future of warfare looks like. We must change our concept of war and organizational structure. Ukraine has already created a separate branch of forces - unmanned systems forces. This is the future," Petraeus noted.