Ukraine and partners lay foundation for new security architecture – Denys Shmyhal at DFNC Forum

Minister of Defence of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal participated in the International Defence Industries Forum (DFNC), hosted in Kyiv.

The event was attended by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and several foreign guests, including Prime Minister of the Netherlands Dick Schoof.

“Ukraine and its partners are building the foundation for enduring peace and a new architecture of European security. The forum aims to become a platform for Ukrainian manufacturers, international companies, investors, and associations to jointly develop new production sites, initiate R&D collaborations, and advance investment initiatives,” stated Denys Shmyhal.

The Minister of Defence of Ukraine participated in a panel discussion dedicated to enhancing industrial cooperation under the ‘Build with Ukraine’ and ‘Build in Ukraine’ initiatives, and to advancing research and development in the defense sector. Joining the discussion were Luke Pollard, the UK Minister of State for Defence Readiness and Industry; Troels Lund Poulsen, Denmark’s Minister of Defence; Morten Bødskov, Denmark’s Minister for Industry, Business and Financial Affairs; and Tarja Jaakkola, NATO’s Assistant Secretary General for Defence Industry, Innovation and Armaments.

According to Denys Shmyhal, Ukraine seeks not only to carry out joint projects with partner countries abroad, but also to launch new enterprises and manufacturing facilities in Ukraine.

Under the ‘Build with Ukraine’ and ‘Build in Ukraine’ initiatives, cooperation has already been established with over 25 companies. By the end of the year, a further seven agreements are planned under the ‘Build with Ukraine’ initiative.

“Concurrently, we are developing a new approach to organizing the export of defense products under martial law. The President announced a new export strategy. In the months ahead, we will actively advance its implementation, enabling us to share with our allies not only experience and expertise, but also combat-proven defense products,” emphasized Denys Shmyhal.

He noted that some manufacturers have surplus capacity, so it is essential to find ways to export defense products to partners while ensuring frontline needs are met.

Another focus is the development of the drone market.

“We have developed a dedicated government strategy and are working on the necessary legislative amendments. We are rolling out grant and concessional-loan programs for drone developers. Going forward, we plan to integrate drone manufacturers into Defence City and expand this segment beyond UAVs to include manufacturers of ground robotic military systems,” the Minister of Defense emphasized.

Furthermore, the integration of artificial intelligence continues across all domains — in the air, on land, at sea, in the information environment, and in cyberspace. Denys Shmyhal added that AI is emerging as a decisive game-changer on the battlefield.

“We are grateful to all those who support Ukraine. We are united by a common goal — a strong Europe and enduring peace,” concluded the Minister of Defence of Ukraine.