Denys Shmyhal: The fastest way to strengthen Europe’s security is to support Ukraine
The Minister of Defence of Ukraine, Denys Shmyhal, took part in the 2025 Aspen Security Forum: DC Edition, held in Washington, D.C.
During his online address, the Minister of Defence stressed that Europe must take responsibility for its own security today. He underscored that the fastest way to strengthen European security is to support Ukraine.
In particular, he outlined two key prerequisites for achieving a lasting peace:
- a strong Ukrainian military and defense industry;
- security guarantees, primarily provided by Ukraine’s Defence Forces.
Denys Shmyhal also noted that Ukraine requires stable funding, advanced weaponry, and integration into Europe’s security architecture.
He stated that Ukraine is ready to share battlefield-proven innovations with Europe:
- Ukraine has achieved an annual drone production capacity of nearly 20 million units.
- Ukraine has emerged as a leader in the use of AI on the battlefield and has been the first worldwide to scale the production and combat use of ground robotic systems. In 2025, the Ministry of Defence is procuring 15,000 such systems.
- In parallel, Ukraine is advancing its missile program, with plans to manufacture 30,000 long-range drones and 3,000 cruise missiles.
“We are building a unique ecosystem capable of protecting both Ukraine and Europe. The most logical source of funding for this effort is frozen russian assets. The aggressor must pay for its aggression. I am grateful to all our partners for their constructive efforts to end the war. We continue moving toward our shared goal—a strong Ukraine and a lasting, just peace in Europe,” the Minister of Defence concluded.