On March 25, the first day of the Ukrainian-Danish Forum on Total Defence took place in Copenhagen at the Royal Danish Defence College. Ukrainian and Danish experts, military professionals, and analysts discussed the key question: how war is transforming Europe – and why supporting Ukraine is one of the most effective ways to ensure the continent’s security.
In this conversation, Ukraine is not an object of security, but a co-creator of it.
“Ukraine is becoming a global hub of military innovation – from drones to digital battlefield management systems. Drone manufacturers without direct connection to the frontline will always fall behind, and one way to address this is by creating joint ventures with Ukrainian companies,” says Oleksii Ziborov, Advisor on drones and technological warfare at the Reforms Support Office of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine.
The focus of Day 1 was how modern warfare is evolving and how Europe can accelerate the build-up of its defence capabilities. Ukraine’s experience – from battlefield innovation to industrial mobilization – has become a new point of reference.
“While Europe is still debating whether it is at war, Russia is already waging it… It is time to move from ignoring to a ‘doctrine of retaliation’,” emphasizes Elena Davlikanova, PhD, Associate Senior Fellow at Sahaidachnyi Security Center.
“We are strengthening cooperation between Ukraine and Denmark through deeper mutual understanding between our societies. This is how the foundation for deeper defence integration and new security alliances is built,” adds Lesia Ogryzko, Head of the Reforms Support Office at the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine and Director of Sahaidachnyi Security Center.
The first day highlighted a simple but uncomfortable truth: we are already living in a new reality of war. And the question is not only how Ukraine wins, but how quickly Europe is ready to act together with it.
We thank all speakers for a substantive discussion and their consistent advocacy for cooperation between Ukraine and Denmark: Dr. Kristian Søby Kristensen, Andrii Yanevskyi, Michael Zilmer-Johns, Hüseyin Yücel, Lesia Ogryzko, Taras Doroniuk, Oleksii Ziborov, Andreas Graae, Daniel Møller Ølgaard, Esben Gadsbøll, Morten Flindt, Sten Nymark.
