Why Ukraine Must Remain Europe’s Military Shield After the War

Even if the active phase of the war ends, Ukraine must maintain a powerful and modern army to prevent new Russian aggression—not only for its own protection but for the security of the entire continent, said Igor Popov, Political and Security Studies Specialist at the United Ukraine Think Tank in his analysis for The Gaze.

“Ukraine is the de facto core of the European security system and a key ‘barrier’ that restrains the Kremlin’s aggressive ambitions,” Popov emphasized. According to him, the idea of drastically reducing Ukraine’s Armed Forces after the war would create serious risks. “It is the strong Armed Forces that guarantee that any revenge scenarios will remain unrealized,” he warned.

Popov noted that although NATO membership remains the best international guarantee of security, the Alliance is still hesitant to issue a clear invitation to Ukraine. At the same time, accelerated EU accession, along with economic and political benefits, is seen as another stabilizing factor. But neither step can substitute for Ukraine’s own military strength.

Drawing on historical lessons, Popov recalled that Ukraine had over 800,000 troops after the collapse of the USSR, but by 2014 that number had shrunk to just 120,000—making the country vulnerable to Russia’s Crimea takeover. Today, the Ukrainian Defense Forces comprise around a million people, and the challenge ahead is maintaining military effectiveness while gradually transitioning to a post-war force structure.

He stressed the importance of creating a robust operational reserve that can rapidly expand the army if needed, maintaining well-equipped high-tech units, and ensuring that military salaries remain competitive. Innovations like the Unmanned Systems Forces and increased domestic weapons production, supported by Western co-financing, are central to Ukraine’s long-term deterrence strategy.

In 2025, Ukraine plans to allocate 26.3% of its GDP to the security and defense sector. This includes record investments in military salaries and the development of new weapons and ammunition.

Read the full article on The Gaze: Why Ukraine Needs to Maintain a Large Army After the War