Kubilius outlines areas of EU-Ukraine cooperation within drone alliance

In Brussels, EU Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius hailed the inaugural meeting of the EU-Ukraine Drone Alliance as a historic milestone. The alliance, comprising 18 founding members—nine from the European Union and nine from Ukraine—gathered to forge a partnership that could elevate both regions technologically and industrially.

Kubilius emphasized the significance of this first meeting, which he deemed a "very important step forward" and even "a historical step forward" in establishing the alliance. The primary objective of the inaugural gathering was to provide a platform for participants to collaborate on agreed-upon measures and activities. Kubilius revealed plans for a second board meeting before the year's end, as participants continue to deliberate on the alliance's agenda.

The alliance, which included Ukraine's industry, serves as a crucial instrument for industrial partnership and integration with Ukraine, according to Kubilius. The EU Commissioner highlighted that the meeting took place during the 3rd EU-Ukraine Defense Industry Forum in Kyiv, marking the initial step towards the EU-Ukraine drone deal announced by President Ursula von der Leyen on July 5.

This deal forms part of the EU-Ukraine defense industrial pact, a response to the increasing drone violations in European airspace, including airports, military installations, and critical infrastructure. Kubilius noted that these violations are an ongoing threat to European airspace, posing a real danger to Ukraine, which must contend with this threat daily.

The challenge lies not only in technological advancements but also in the speed and industrial capacity to deliver jointly, according to Kubilius.