Ukraine Will Become Part Of A European Defense Alliance
- 2.09.2026, 3:00
Kyiv will join a new high-level group.
Ukraine will be involved in finding solutions to strengthen Europe’s defense capabilities. It will join a new high-level group that will begin its work in a few days, said the head of the EU’s foreign affairs department Kaja Kallas. The working group will include high-ranking politicians and military officials from EU member states, the United Kingdom, and Ukraine, the EU’s top diplomat announced following an informal meeting of EU defense ministers in Wicklow, Ireland, on Monday, September 1.
A DW asked Kallas who exactly would represent Ukraine in the new group, noting that former Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov had been brought on by Italy as a defense advisor.
Callas has not yet named the Ukrainian representative or representatives, emphasizing that the full composition of the group will be announced next week. She also noted significant interest in participating in the new initiative and pointed out that the group should go beyond institutional thinking and take into account, among other things, ideas coming from private defense companies.
The EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy recalled that most EU countries are also NATO members; however, gaps remain in the alliance’s conventional defense capabilities, which European countries must fill. At the same time, she said, Europe has so far acted too slowly, despite the growing level of threats.
The new group’s task will be to find concrete solutions that will fill the gaps in defense capabilities as quickly as possible and in the most effective way. “That is precisely why we are also including Ukraine in the group, as it has extensive experience,” explained Kaja Kallas. The group’s recommendations will be addressed to both countries and institutions.
Earlier at the same press conference, Kallas called Ukraine “a global leader in battlefield innovation.” According to her, there are already more than 120 partnerships between Ukrainian and European defense companies, and further integration of the Ukrainian and EU defense industries is in the interests of both sides.