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Ukraine Has World’s “Most Innovative” Arms Sector, EU Defense Chief Says
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Ukraine possesses the most innovative defense industry in the world and must be fully integrated into the European Union’s long-term security architecture, according to EU Commissioner for Defense and Space Andrius Kubilius during a summit address reported by Radio Svoboda on June 23.
Speaking at the European Defense and Security Summit in Brussels, Kubilius endorsed recent assessments by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Finnish President Alexander Stubb, who both characterized the Ukrainian military as the strongest and most adaptable force in Europe.
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The EU commissioner emphasized that this operational dominance stems not only from tactical leadership but from the agility of Ukraine’s domestic manufacturing base. He pointed to the rapid development and mass deployment of unmanned aerial systems following Russia’s full-scale invasion as the prime example of how Kyiv has altered the nature of modern warfare.
Kubilius said that Kyiv has expanded its domestic military production 50-fold since 2022, elevating its manufacturing volume to a level that rivals what major European powers like Germany or France produce in an entire year, according to Radio Svoboda.
He argued that failing to capitalize on this highly optimized industrial capacity would be counterproductive to Western strategic objectives, stating that “it would be difficult to understand if we did not integrate the most innovative defense industry in the world into the European defense-technological industry.”
Ukraine’s manufacturing advancement contrasts with current production bottlenecks inside the European Union. Kubilius noted that despite increased funding allocations, national parliaments must challenge their respective governments on why European defense industries are failing to scale efficiently, especially since Russia continues to outproduce the bloc.
Radio Svoboda notes that this warning is similar to concerns raised in May by EU High Representative Kaja Kallas, who expressed public frustration over the sluggish acceleration of European military-industrial outputs.
Ultimately, Kubilius called for a comprehensive framework to incorporate Ukraine into the European defense market and the future European Defense Union. The commissioner concluded that Western nations must actively absorb Ukrainian expertise in high-velocity, large-scale arms manufacturing to neutralize Moscow’s industrial advantages and secure the continent’s shared borders.
The emphasis on Ukrainian drone integration aligns with prior statements from Kaja Kallas, who noted that the European Union must deepen cooperation with Ukraine’s defense industry to bolster European anti-drone capabilities.
Kallas remarked that European manufacturers should draw directly from Ukraine’s operational experience in drone warfare rather than “reinvent the bicycle,” an urgency highlighted by recent Russian drone incursions and airspace violations in Romania and Latvia.
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