Joint Defence Innovation Office With EU Starts to Work in Ukraine

President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen has revealed that the Defence Innovation Office in Kyiv, which was announced earlier this year, has already started working. 

She made the announcement at a briefing in Kyiv, broadcasting it on X. 

‘Our Defence Innovation Office is already up and running, with EU staff here in Kyiv and a support team in Brussels,’ von der Leyen said.

She reminded that the Defence Innovation Office was conceived as a hub that would ‘create a bridge’ between the Ukrainian and European defence industries and allow for the exchange of experience. 

‘This will be beneficial for Ukraine, but also for us, because Ukraine's defence industry is one of the most advanced. So I am looking forward to deepening our cooperation in this area even before Ukraine joins the EU,’ the European Commission President said.

Von der Leyen first announced the creation of the Defence Innovation Office back in February. In May, the European Commission said that work on its creation had already begun.