On April 29, the Transatlantic Dialogue Center in Kyiv hosted an expert discussion that moved beyond familiar debates about Ukraine’s Euro-Atlantic future.
The panel — featuring Olena Davlikanova (Sahaidachnyi Security Center), alongside Nataliya Butyrska (New Europe Center), Hanna Shelest (Foreign Policy Council “Ukrainian Prism”), and Andreas Umland (EPIK) — focused on how Ukraine, the EU, and the US can build practical cooperation now, under conditions as they are.
The discussion, moderated by Marianna Fakhurdinova, also featured the Transatlantic Dialogue Center’s report “Navigating the US–EU–Ukraine Triangle: Revitalizing Transatlantic Security Cooperation.”
Olena Davlikanova’s core message:
“The war we are experiencing today is a conflict of a new generation. Ukraine has the capacity to export an entire ecosystem of new defense solutions, not just individual products — this agenda is recognized by the EU as well.”
Drawing on her experience and ongoing work with Nordic-Baltic partners, Olena Davlikanova traced Ukraine’s emerging role as a defense technology exporter.
She pointed to concrete wins, e.g.:
- Ukrainian companies selected under the US Artemis program for long-range strike drone production;
- joint ventures taking shape in New Hampshire, and
- Ukrainian firms advancing to Pentagon finals in drone dominance competitions.
She also highlighted European programs supporting Ukraine’s defense-industrial base. The European Union is building a comprehensive toolkit to integrate Ukraine into Europe’s defense-industrial ecosystem and develop critical capabilities together.
- The EDIP program, with its Ukraine Support Instrument component, targets modernization of Ukraine’s defense industry and funding for joint projects in UAVs, air defense, and long-range strike systems.
- In parallel, the European Commission approved a package of approximately €1.5 billion for defense industry development and joint projects with Ukraine, including component manufacturing and counter-drone systems.
- Through the European Defence Fund (EDF), Ukraine is already integrated into consortia working on unmanned systems, AI, and cybersecurity.
- The SAFE (Security Action for Europe) instrument complements these efforts by enabling rapid production scale-up and procurement placement in Ukraine, while the “Build with Ukraine” policy framework incentivizes co-production.
Together, these programs lay the foundation for scalable defense integration and the formation of a unified European defense ecosystem with Ukraine as an active participant.
Olena Davlikanova acknowledged that Ukraine lacks a long history of industrial collaboration with Europe, yet the momentum is there. European partners are now co-producing naval drones, licensing Ukrainian designs, and investing in joint manufacturing that benefits both sides.
The central takeaway from the discussion echoed across all speakers: despite divergence and turbulence, space for cooperation exists — if partners commit to long-term mechanisms and move past declaratory politics.
Watch the full panel discussion to hear the full analysis and the broader conversation on Black Sea security, authoritarian challenge responses, and new coordination formats.