Kyiv Hosts Defense Cooperation Forum: Expanding Horizons in Security and Partnerships
In August, the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, hosted a large-scale international event known as the Defense Cooperation Forum, bringing together leading defense officials and political figures from around the world.
This forum focused on contemporary military challenges and innovations in security, and was chaired by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who personally opened the event and addressed participants with important speeches.
Attendees included defense ministers from Denmark, Canada, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, and Sweden, as well as delegations from the UK, Estonia, Czech Republic, NATO, and the European Union.
The discussions centered on key issues of the modern defense sector, particularly digital technologies, artificial intelligence, and innovative military systems.
Ukrainian representatives emphasized the integration of their defense industry into European security systems and highlighted the importance of collaborative efforts in defense manufacturing.
Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal called on international partners to join the Build in Ukraine program, which aims to establish factories, service centers, and production lines within Ukraine.
He stressed that the strength of alliances depends on their ability to pool resources and efforts for collective security.
“Together, we are strong.
United by shared values and goals, we will overcome challenges to protect Ukraine and the free world,” said Shmyhal.
Earlier, he announced that during a visit by Swedish Defense Minister Pal Jonson to Ukraine on August 23, Kyiv and Stockholm agreed to co-produce defense equipment on both countries’ territories, marking a significant step in Ukraine-Sweden military cooperation.