Only Ukraine's victory guarantees Europe's long-term security; the opposite scenario would be disastrous for the entire continent. This was emphasised by the Chairman of the Kyiv Security Forum (KSF), Prime Minister of Ukraine in 2014-2016 Arseniy Yatsenyuk, during strategic consultations on the future of European defence organised by European Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius in Brussels.

The aim of the consultations, in their new format, is to facilitate the preparation of strategic decisions on strengthening the European Union's defence capabilities and defining the EU's new role in the global security system.

During the meeting, key issues of the future defence development of the EU were discussed, in particular the further evolution of European institutions in the field of defence, the formation of a common defence market and the development of production, the future of transatlantic relations in the field of security and defence, the EU's cooperation with Ukraine in the field of defence and the formation of European policy towards Russia. During the consultations, specific proposals were presented for the development of a common European defence strategy with the participation of Ukraine.

‘Ukraine must be an integral part of the European defence architecture. And we will continue to work together to make this happen, Arseniy Yatsenyuk stressed, emphasising the defining role of Ukraine's support in deterring Russian aggression.

‘We need not only material, institutional and political, but also intellectual defence readiness,’ stressed European Commissioner Kubilius. That is why, according to him, experienced politicians and diplomats were invited to the discussion on the future of European defence and the main challenges of creating a European Defence Union.

The first session of this format was attended by, among others José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission in 2004-2014; Carl Bildt, former Prime Minister of Sweden and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sweden in 2006-2014; Mikuláš Dzurinda, Prime Minister of Slovakia (1998-2006); Natalia Gavrilita, Prime Minister of Moldova (2021-2023); Stavros Lambrinidis, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece (2011) and EU Ambassador to the United States (2019–2023); Enrico Letta, Prime Minister of Italy (2013–2014); Ana Palacio, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Spain (2002-2004); Hans-Gert Pöttering, President of the European Parliament (2007-2009); Klaus Welle, Secretary-General of the European Parliament (2009-2022).