Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, during his visit to Berlin on Tuesday, announced that Ukraine would hold discussions this week with its European partners on the creation of a common defense system.
“I am confident: either Ukraine becomes an integral part of the European security system, or some European countries risk becoming part of the ‘Russian world’,” Zelensky said. The Ukrainian president reiterated that Kyiv was ready to “support those who support us.”
“Our experience in Ukrainian security and military expertise are now the most sought-after products by dozens of countries around the world,” Zelensky stated, referring to defense agreements recently signed by Kyiv with the Middle East.
Ukraine has already signed crucial agreements with Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, and is in talks with Kuwait, Oman, Turkey, and Syria, while countries in Asia and Africa are also showing interest in Ukraine’s expertise.
Zelensky emphasized, “Ukraine is a global producer of strength and security – this is already the case and will remain so,” as he announced discussions with European partners following his Middle East tour.
What could this common defense system look like?
After visiting Gulf states, followed by stops in Turkey and Syria, Zelensky said last week that if the United States seriously considered withdrawing from NATO, European security would rely “solely on the European Union.”
According to the Ukrainian president, the current state of affairs would not be sufficient, and non-EU countries, including Ukraine, could intervene. “The United Kingdom, Ukraine, Turkey, and Norway. These are four strong countries that are part of Europe,” Zelensky said.
After discussions in Berlin, Zelensky will travel to Norway to meet Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, planned for Tuesday evening.
“Together, the United Kingdom, Ukraine, and Turkey have stronger armies than Russia,” Zelensky declared last week, adding that without Ukraine and Turkey, Europe could not compete with Russia.
“With these four countries on board, you can control the seas, have a safer sky, and the largest land forces,” Zelensky emphasized. “It is not a matter of offense, because when Russia decides to build a 2.5 million-strong army by 2030, Europe will have to think about security and how to preserve its independence,” he added.
What can Ukraine bring?
Kyiv can contribute to European defense, primarily through its drones: first-view drones, interceptors, long-range drones, and naval drones. The Ukrainian defense industry has switched to domestic production, with most weapons used on the front lines now manufactured in the country.
Zelensky stated that in the first three months of 2026, ground robotic systems carried out over 22,000 missions on the Ukrainian front line. “In other words, lives were saved over 22,000 times when a robot went to the most dangerous areas instead of a warrior. This is cutting-edge technology that protects the highest value: human life,” he said.
He also mentioned that for the first time since Russia’s total war against Ukraine began, Kiev forces captured Russian positions “exclusively using unmanned platforms – land systems and drones.” “The occupiers surrendered, and the operation was carried out without infantry and without casualties on our side,” he explained.
Ukrainian maritime drones
A significant part of Ukraine’s drone arsenal consists of domestically manufactured maritime drones, which have played a crucial role in securing the Black Sea corridor and Kyiv’s grain exports.
Ukraine uses maritime drones and specialized weapons to secure the corridor and enable maritime traffic. Zelensky proposed a similar approach to unlock the Strait of Hormuz.
“When people talk about security in the Strait of Hormuz, it is often a theoretical discussion,” he said, explaining that “those who talk about it have not themselves conducted such operations, while Ukrainians have. We fought an enemy fleet, air strikes, and naval mines – we went through all of that. And if partners offer us cooperation on an equal footing, Ukraine can help.”
Maritime drones were included in Kyiv’s defense agreements with Gulf states. French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer are set to co-host a video conference on Friday to define a security plan for the Strait of Hormuz, as peace talks over the weekend between Tehran and Washington did not reach an agreement. It is not yet known if Zelensky will participate in these discussions.
