Ukraine's experience in the use and production of drones, heavy weapons, artillery ammunition, and reconnaissance makes the country a global leader in the international defense sector, noted experts, participants in a press conference titled "From Ukraine's defense to joint defense space: Integration into international defense initiatives" that took place at Interfax-Ukraine on Thursday.
"Our experience and the measures we are taking today – particularly our assistance to countries in the Middle East and joint ventures among partner countries that are developing the production of various types of drones – make us a global leader in the deployment of new weapons. In addition, our military-industrial complex is being replenished with artillery ammunition and heavy weapons that we manufacture under joint contracts. "We are also proposing innovations in the field of intelligence and improvements in the production of air defense systems," a military analyst, reserve colonel, and former officer of the Main Operational Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) Oleh Zhdanov said during the event.
In particular, the speakers said that reports regarding the suspension of intelligence sharing between Ukraine and its international partners do not entirely correspond to reality. However, as emphasized by a political consultant, head of the Real Politics analytical group, and a servicemember of the Ukrainian Defense Forces Oleksandr Antoniuk, the exchange of intelligence requires an appropriate response, assessment, and decision-making.
As an example, he cited intelligence regarding the deployment in the Voronezh region of a North Korean missile unit equipped with six launchers and 120 Korean-made missiles. "Of course, the exchange of data requires an appropriate response, assessment, and decision-making. As we can see, unlike democratic countries, totalitarian states make decisions more quickly, form certain alliances, and, as we can see, even support one another on the ground," Antoniuk said.
Thus, the expert said the threat is no longer localized, no matter how hard the West has tried to keep this war within certain boundaries. Therefore, he considers the anti-ballistic missile program a key priority and finds the delay in the mass production of Patriot systems puzzling.
At the same time, the discussion moderator, President of the International Institute for Security Studies and KAI Professor Oleksiy Buriachenko said that in addition to developing its own anti-ballistic capabilities, the Ukrainian military is currently working on "certain asymmetric methods." "We can operate within enemy territory, destroying them not only after launch, but perhaps even before launch. And this could, in my opinion, serve as a partial substitute until we acquire our own anti-ballistic capabilities," he said.
According to experts, this situation is leading Ukraine to attempt to make decisions on its own. "In fact, in many respects, we have more freedom of action, although we maintain close ties with the West in terms of supplies, equipment, and intelligence," political analyst, head of the Center for Analysis and Strategies Ihor Chalenko said, describing the situation.
But despite all the obstacles and challenges, Ukraine has now become a key player in many areas of the military-industrial complex. "Without us, our Western partners are no longer able to move forward and catch up with or surpass our adversaries in terms of advancing modern innovations and production," Zhdanov said.
Buriachenko said Ukraine is doing a great deal not only to ensure its own security but is also beginning to shape the new contours of European security and create a new format for interregional Eurasian security, which previously did not exist within Yalta-Potsdam framework.
"Notice how much our policy, both domestic and foreign, has evolved in just these few years amid a full-scale war… And now, when we talk about international defense initiatives, when we talk about joint defense spaces, Ukraine is demonstrating leadership in all these areas. Ukraine is, in essence, becoming an international security constant and is already implementing global projects on the Eurasian continent through its active participation. Therefore, strategically, Ukraine is undoubtedly becoming more mature and capable; and if institutions such as NATO and the European Union – which are, of course, enshrined in the Constitution – do not evolve, then it will indeed be much easier to become a new platform and opportunity for creating new interregional security institutions – a new, mutually integrated global security structure – with minimal U.S. involvement, but with greater responsibility on the part of those actors who are prepared, accordingly, to take on that responsibility," he said.
