On 6 May, the EU-Ukraine Defence industries Forum took place in Brussels. The event, the first organised by the European Union (EU), was hosted by High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (HR/VP) Josep Borrell and European Commissioner for Internal Market Thierry Breton, together with the Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba, and Minister of Strategic Industries of Ukraine Alexander Kamyshin. Forum was supported by the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU and the Aerospace, Security and Defence Industries Association of Europe (ASD).

The Forum focused on strengthening defence industrial cooperation between the EU and Ukraine, in view of providing sustained military support to Ukraine, also over the long term, and better addressing Ukrainian defence and industrial needs. It gathered nearly 400 representatives from governments, EU and Ukrainian defence industries, industry associations and key partner countries and organisations as well as EU institutions. It included a High-Level Conference and a business matchmaking segment, which offered a platform for concrete business-to-business cooperation, in particular for Small and Medium sized Enterprises. 

 “Today’s Forum is a key step to bolster cooperation between Ukrainian and EU defence industries. It is crucial now but also for our future needs. I am convinced it will bring our defence industries closer, allow us to learn from each other, and help Ukraine to defend itself from Russia’s war of aggression. This may prove to be a game changer for the long term”, said Josep Borrell. 

 “Our commitment towards Ukraine and our joint ambition to mobilise the European industry to deliver what is needed, are as solid as ever. The European defence industries must move into a war economy mode. The objective is to produce faster, more and together, to continue supporting Ukraine, now and on the long term”, said Thierry Breton.

Minister of Strategic Industries of Ukraine, Alexander Kamyshin said: "Ukraine is forever grateful for all the assistance the EU and its Member States have delivered and continue to provide. Over the last year, we have also been ramping up our own capabilities significantly — and we aim to build them in cooperation with our allies. We see our defence industry as part of the EU’s defence industrial base, contributing to the collective security of the EU’s Member States."

The EU-Ukraine Defence Industries Forum is a first, concrete step in the implementation of the European Defence Industrial Strategy (EDIS), launched in March 2024. The Forum opens the way to identify concrete cooperation initiatives, arrangements and flagship projects between the EU and Ukraine defence industries, through e.g., joint ventures. This will promote closer cooperation between defence companies and the progressive integration of the Ukrainian industry in the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base (EDTIB), also in view of Ukraine’s accession process to the EU.

As Russia continues to wage its brutal war of aggression against Ukraine, the EU stands firm in its determination and steadfast commitment to support Ukraine with whatever it takes to prevail, in the short-term as well as for the long run. This Forum testifies to this commitment.

The EU will continue to encourage Member States to deliver more and faster military assistance to Ukraine and provide support via European Peace Facility. The EU has proposed to support joint procurement from the European defence industry (and Norway) and encourages procurement through joint ventures between the European and Ukrainian defence industry. The EU is also working with Ukrainian authorities for the set-up of an EU innovation office in Kyiv by end of the year. 

The Forum is the third multilateral edition of a series of international defence industries events launched by the Ukrainian government in Kyiv in September 2023 – the first one organised by the EU.