DFNC³: Initial takeaways from the International Defence Industries Forum

The third International Defence Industries Forum (DFNC³) has concluded in Kyiv, reaffirming its role as an annual platform for advancing solutions to strengthen Ukraine’s defense industry and build the arsenal of the free world.

This year, DFNC³ brought together nearly 2,000 participants from over 20 countries. The forum convened representatives of almost 900 private Ukrainian and foreign defense and technology companies and associations, 120 government institutions, 50 defense ministries, as well as embassies and international organizations.

The largest delegations arrived from Denmark, the United States, Poland, the United Kingdom, Sweden, and Norway, reflecting the high level of engagement and support for Ukraine.

Opening the forum, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed that since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukraine’s weaponry potential has increased dozens of times. At the same time, the production of weapons is now a shared task between Ukraine and its partner nations.

The Head of State expressed gratitude to international partners for their support and awarded honors: the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise, 1st Class, to Prime Minister of the Netherlands Dick Schoof; and the Order of Merit, 3rd Class, to Norway’s Chief of Defence General Eirik Kristoffersen and to National Armaments Director at the Ministry of Defence of the Netherlands, Vice Admiral Jan Willem Hartman.

Forum participants were also addressed by Ukraine’s Minister of Defence Denys Shmyhal, Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrii Sybiha, and Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Ruslan Stefanchuk. Honored speakers included Slovakia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Robert Kaliňák; Denmark’s Minister of Defence Troels Lund Poulsen; the United Kingdom’s Minister of State for Defence Readiness and Industry Luke Pollard; and Denmark’s Minister for Industry, Business and Financial Affairs Morten Bødskov. Eric Schmidt, investor and founder of White Stork, also addressed the forum.

“We are building new partnerships and implementing joint production initiatives both in partner countries and in Ukraine. Through the strategic initiatives ‘Build with Ukraine’ and ‘Build in Ukraine’, we are not only strengthening our own defense industry but, together with our allies, building the arsenal of the free world,” said Minister of Defence of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal.

Several important intergovernmental and business agreements were signed on the sidelines of DFNC³, opening up new opportunities for Ukrainian manufacturers.

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed with the Kingdom of Denmark, providing for the launch of production by Ukrainian defense companies on Danish territory. An agreement was also signed with Slovakia concerning the provision of non-lethal and humanitarian equipment to Ukraine.

Also, with the involvement of the JSC ‘Ukrainian Defense Industry’ (UkrOboronProm), Ukrainian companies concluded cooperation agreements with their European partners, in particular with companies from Spain and Romania.

“Ukrainian weaponry is our smart strength. It is unique because it is developed amid a real, exhausting war and is already helping our military carry out combat missions. Cooperation between the state, business, and international partners, and the emergence of such platforms, mean new production capacities, modern technologies, and the ability to produce our weapons more quickly, with higher quality, and at greater scale,” said Anna Gvozdiar, Deputy Minister of Defence of Ukraine.

The main themes of the forum included the achievements and challenges of weapons production in Ukraine, as well as the deepening of defense-industrial cooperation among companies and the defense sectors of partner nations as a mutual guarantee of security.

Particular attention was given to the combat experience of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which serves as a key driver in shaping the development of defense technologies and innovations.

Participants also focused on the technological competition, with key areas including unmanned systems, ground robotic platforms, drone swarms, and the use of artificial intelligence. An important part of the discussions focused on supporting Ukraine’s defense industry through financing, international programs such as EDIP and SAFE, and on sharing Ukraine’s experience in defense procurement.

Over the course of three days, dozens of B2B meetings were held on the sidelines of DFNC³ between Ukrainian and foreign defense manufacturers, government agencies, and international organizations. This will undoubtedly facilitate direct cooperation, lay the foundation for new partnerships, and contribute to the further development of Ukraine’s defense industry. 

The DFNC³ Forum was co-organized by the Office of the President of Ukraine, the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.