Ukraine's Regional Security Alliances: How to Get the Most Out of Them

After February 24, 2022, it became clear that Europe's traditional security architecture was not ready to effectively respond to the challenges posed by the aggressive policy of the Russian Federation. For Ukraine, this became a Rubicon, after which it was necessary to look for new, flexible and practical formats of defense cooperation.

While full membership in NATO remains a strategic goal, it is regional security alliances that have become the main tool for survival and confrontation in wartime. Without waiting for a formal invitation to join the Alliance, Kyiv began to build a network of partnerships that in practice provided weapons, intelligence, logistics, and political support.

First Responders: How Early Partners Stepped In

The first partners to respond quickly to the threat were Poland, the United Kingdom, Lithuania, Turkey, and the Scandinavian countries. As early as February 2022, they began to transfer ATGMs, man-portable air defense systems, communications equipment, ammunition, and other equipment that helped deter the first attack. These countries did not wait for approval from Brussels or Washington-they acted within the framework of existing regional formats, many of which were created before the invasion but gained real content during the war. That is why Ukraine began investing in the development of alliances such as the Lublin Triangle, Quadriga, and the trilateral alliance with the UK and Poland, as well as joining newly created formats such as the Ukraine Compact.

The Lublin Triangle: From Shared History to Joint Defense Industry

The Lublin Triangle, established in 2020, has become one of the most stable alliances on NATO's eastern flank. Its members-Lithuania, Poland, and Ukraine-have not only a common historical memory but also a common understanding of the Russian threat.

Over the years of war, this format has grown into an important coordination center where issues of joint countering propaganda, intelligence sharing, joint military exercises, and defense policy are discussed. In July 2023, the participating countries signed an updated memorandum of defense cooperation, which paved the way for the integration of their defense industries.

Quadriga: Turkish Drones and Black Sea Cooperation

Quadriga is a unique format that brings together the Ministries of Defense and Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and Turkey. Created in 2020, this platform has transformed into a strategic vector of interaction between the two Black Sea states. The quadriga not only launched the supply of Bayraktars, but also signed an agreement to build a drone production plant in Ukraine.

In 2023, the cooperation also included the exchange of experience in naval warfare, particularly in the context of mine clearance and the use of maritime drones. Turkey, although taking a cautious stance in the conflict, continues to be an important player in defense partnerships.

The Trilateral Axis: Ukraine, Poland, and the UK in Action

The Ukraine-Poland-UK trilateral alliance has become equally important. Announced in February 2022, it was a prompt response to the reality of the Russian invasion. This format created an “axis of resolve” that provided both logistics and operational assistance on the battlefield. It was on the initiative of the UK that a large-scale training program for the Ukrainian military was launched as part of Operation Interflex.

Poland took over the logistics hub and evacuation of the wounded, while Ukraine became the core of the frontline resistance. After a few months of fighting, when it became clear that the war would be prolonged, this format was proposed for institutionalization: with the creation of a coordination headquarters, a unified training program, and possible harmonization of defense doctrines.

The Ukraine Compact: Toward a Global Security Framework

The Ukraine Compact format is the most systematic and structured of all regional initiatives. Signed on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Vilnius, it brought together more than 20 countries, including the EU, the US, Japan, and Northern Europe. The agreement provides for long-term support for Ukraine's defense, including the supply of equipment, training, intelligence, construction of military-industrial facilities, and, most importantly, a joint response in the event of new Russian aggression.

Each of the signatory countries additionally concludes bilateral agreements with Ukraine, which clearly define the scope of assistance, its regularity, and the possibility of expansion. For example, the agreement with the United Kingdom provides for military assistance worth more than 2.5 billion pounds annually in the coming years, while the agreement with the United States covers joint strategic planning and demining programs.

Northern Path: Scandinavia’s Emerging Defense Cluster

The Scandinavian direction – Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Finland – should be singled out separately. These countries provide not only a significant amount of weapons, but also participate in defense production projects, rehabilitation of the military, and funding of training programs.

Denmark has taken over the coordination of one of the areas within the UDCG, Sweden supplies air defense systems, and Norway supplies precision weapons. The participation of these countries in the Ukraine Compact is backed not only by political will but also by concrete resources, and this allows us to talk about the prospect of forming a northern defense cluster with Ukraine's participation.

Institutionalization of all these formats is now on the agenda. For the trilateral alliance with Poland and the UK, this means establishing a permanent headquarters, joint procurement, coordination of exercises, and standardization of procedures. For the Compact, it means launching a coordination mechanism that would allow not only to coordinate aid but also to respond promptly to escalations at the front. For the Scandinavian format, it is the transition to joint production of ammunition and the creation of a joint training center for officers.

Beyond NATO: Ukraine as a Regional Security Architect

Regional security formats have proven to be flexible, fast, and politically less bureaucratic support tools. They do not replace NATO, but form a temporary but effective “containment zone” until Ukraine's full integration into the Alliance. At the same time, they should not be seen as an alternative, but rather as a platform for political, logistical, and military integration. They provide an opportunity to work out mechanisms that may become part of NATO's commitments in the future.

Ukraine should initiate not only participation but also agenda-setting in these formats. This means not only accepting assistance but also shaping the strategic security framework of the region. Because today Ukraine is not only an object of security policy, but also its key architect in Central and Eastern Europe.

Bohdan Popov, Head of Digital at the United Ukraine Think Tank, communications specialist and public figure