Joining forces in the field of dual-use technologies is of strategic importance for both Ukraine and its European partners.

Natalia Shapoval, Head of the KSE Institute and Vice-President for Political Research at the Kyiv School of Economics, made this point during a special discussion of the Kyiv Security Forum entitled ‘Ukraine’s Recovery: Talk or Action?’, dedicated to the outcomes of URC 2026.

“During the Conference, the launch of six programmes under the Ukraine Investment Framework was announced. In effect, these are European Union guarantees specifically aimed at supporting projects in the field of dual-use technologies. And it is precisely in this sector that the return on investment is higher than in US pension funds. Therefore, it makes sense to proceed without risk insurance. And this is precisely where it is strategically important for Ukraine – and, in my view, for Europe too – to join forces,” she noted.

Natalia Shapoval emphasised that this is one of the sectors already attracting investment. “There are already 156 joint ventures between Western and Ukrainian companies that are already implementing projects in the field of dual-use technologies or defence projects,” said the KSE Institute head.

According to her, particular attention was paid to the energy sector at URC 2026. “There are quite a few projects there that are not investments in the strict sense. Several agreements in the field of green energy were announced. They are being implemented using complex European instruments: war risk insurance, political risk insurance and export credit facilities. These are combined mechanisms, but all of this is already happening now and is a continuation of the processes initiated last year,” she emphasised.

Natalia Shapoval specifically emphasised that Ukraine is fully aware of all the challenges and risks facing its economy. “We are not ignoring the problems Ukraine faces regarding the business climate or those created for us by Russia. But, despite all this, we see a very strong momentum,” she concluded.

The discussion also brought together the Chairman of the Kyiv Security Forum, Arseniy Yatsenyuk, Prime Minister of Ukraine in 2014–2016; Danylo Lubkivsky, a member of the Kyiv Security Forum’s Security Council and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine in 2014; Katarina Maternová, the European Union’s Ambassador to Ukraine; and Anka Feldhusen, Ukraine’s Business Ombudsman and Germany’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Ukraine (2019–2023). The discussion took place as part of the new ‘Kyiv Security Forum: Deep Strike’ project – a series of expert discussions on pressing issues and key trends in the fields of security, the economy and Ukraine’s foreign policy. The project aims to provide an in-depth analysis of the most significant challenges shaping the country’s future.

The Kyiv Security Forum (KSF) is an annual international event launched in 2007 on the initiative of the Arseniy Yatsenyuk Open Ukraine Foundation.