Ukrainian Foreign Minister Outlines Defense Priorities to EU Commissioner in The Hague

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha held high-level talks with European Commissioner for Defence Andrius Kubilius in The Hague, outlining Ukraine’s most pressing priorities in the defense sector and calling for deeper strategic alignment between Kyiv and Brussels, The Gaze reports.

In a post on social media platform X, Sybiha emphasized that the talks focused on the next steps toward strengthening the defense capabilities and strategic autonomy of both Ukraine and Europe.

“I informed the Commissioner about Ukraine's defense priorities, which include long-range capabilities, interceptor drones, and the national air defense system program,” Sybiha wrote.

The minister also highlighted Ukraine’s “exceptional capabilities, R&D expertise, and unique battle-tested technologies” as assets that could significantly contribute to Europe’s broader defense architecture. 

He stressed the need to fully leverage the EU’s new defense instruments, such as SAFE (Strategic Autonomy Fund for Europe) and EDIP (European Defence Industrial Programme), to support Ukraine’s defense industrial base.

“We agreed to further coordinate closely and work together to scale up Ukraine’s strength,” Sybiha said.

The meeting comes in the wake of the EU Council’s approval of the SAFE initiative on May 27, which allows for up to €150 billion in loans to boost the defense industries of member states. 

Under the framework, Ukrainian defense companies are eligible to participate on equal terms with EU manufacturers – a move widely seen as a step toward integrating Ukraine more closely into Europe’s security ecosystem. 

As Ukraine continues to face full-scale Russian aggression, closer defense ties with the EU are seen as vital for both Ukraine’s survival and the continent’s long-term security.

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