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Being at the forefront of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukraine is gaining first-hand insight into new methods and technologies of warfare — knowledge that is vital in today’s tumultuous geopolitical environment.
Both, the EU and NATO take steps to deepen the defense-industrial cooperation with Ukraine and facilitate knowledge transfer as well as industrial cooperation. The EU’s EDIP and UNITE Brave NATO are the most recent examples of this growing effort.
Ukraine in the EU’s EDIP
Last Tuesday, the European Parliament voted 457-148, with 33 abstentions, to pass the
€1.5-billion European Defense Industry Program (EDIP), covering 2025-2027. The program formally allocates €300 million to dedicated Ukraine Support Instrument, which will help modernize Ukraine’s defense industry and integrate it with the EU’s industrial base. By granting Ukraine access to the EU’s Defense Investment Program, Europe can procure defense equipment in, with, and for Ukraine.
Andrius Kubilius — the EU Defense Commissioner — was one of the most forceful voices during the plenary debate. He noted that while Ukraine „needs us,” Europe needs Ukraine’s defense innovations even more. Kubilius also emphasized that for Ukraine it’s „not just a presence in our mechanisms, but real involvement in creating new joint productions and technologies that will form the foundation of Europe’s future security.”
UNITE Brave NATO
Meanwhile on November 26th, NATO announced a new joint NATO-Ukraine initiative – UNITE Brave NATO
— poised to accelerate defense innovation, scale prototypes, test innovative technologies, help enhance interoperability, and provide real-time lessons for the Alliance. The main areas of focus include counter-unmanned aerial systems (c-UAS), SIGINT systems, robust navigation in contested electromagnetic environments, and unmanned ground systems.
Both Allied and Ukrainian companies can register and submit joint bids in February 2026. According to the estimates, the funding will potentially reach €50 million thanks to NATO’s Comprehensive Assistance Package and Ukraine’s Ministry of Digital Transformation. The winners will be announced in spring 2026.
The importance of sustaining long-term commitment
These two recent initiatives reflect the broader strategic importance of Ukraine’s know-how for Euro-Atlantic defense industries. The EU’s EDIP program signals Ukraine’s industrial integration within the EU, while the UNITE Brave NATO initiative accelerates the innovation cycle between Ukraine and the Euro-Atlantic community. It is important to highlight that these processes might not advance at the same pace or in the same fashion across the EU and NATO, which is a potential divergence that merits closer attention. In both cases, however, a common denominator remains: shaping future security together with Ukraine demands sustained long-term commitment, even — and especially — after the conclusion of the ongoing war.
Author: Karolina Kisiel