Ukraine can contribute to security and create joint units with Europe – expert

Hennadii Kovalenko, Director of the Department of International Defense Cooperation at the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine (2023–2025), stated this during a roundtable discussion at Ukrinform titled "Readiness of Human Capital During War and Crises: Lessons, Risks, Solutions."

According to Kovalenko, Ukraine can contribute its own resources to building a joint security system with Europe.

"Ukraine is not only a recipient of security assistance — we also want to make our own contribution. We can provide our experts for mobile training and advisory teams. In addition, we need to establish joint units. For example, a Ukrainian-Polish flotilla could become such a joint formation. NATO already has air capabilities in Europe, and we can offer our resources to participate in air policing missions over Ukraine and Europe," Kovalenko noted.

He recalled that Ukraine already has experience cooperating with Poland in air patrol missions, in particular, during the 2012 European Football Championship, and added that the country could jointly monitor airspace over long distances together with NATO partners.

As reported by Ukrinform, EU leaders, in their conclusions on European defense and security following the recent Brussels summit, reaffirmed the need for close cooperation with Ukraine and its integration into Europe's defense industry.