The European Union should integrate Ukraine into its common defense industry, defense market and future European Defense Union, according to EU Commissioner for Defense and Space Andrius Kubilius.
Speaking at a European defense and security forum in Brussels, he said Ukraine has become one of the clearest examples of how industry can adapt to a new generation of war. Since the start of the full-scale invasion, Ukrainian weapons production has grown dozens of times, with drones becoming one of the most visible areas of change.
Why Ukraine matters for Europe
Kubilius argued that Ukraine’s military strength is not only the result of trained soldiers and commanders. It also comes from a defense sector able to test, redesign and scale technology under battlefield pressure.
For Europe, this experience has practical value. Russia still produces more military goods than EU countries combined, despite rising European defense budgets. Integrating Ukrainian producers could help close that gap faster and make the European industrial base more flexible.
The message from Brussels is that Ukraine should be treated as a defense production partner, not only as a recipient of aid.
If this approach moves from speeches to contracts, Ukrainian companies could gain access to wider European markets while Europe gains production capacity shaped by real combat requirements.
