On May 15, 2025, the Transatlantic Dialogue Center hosted a closed-door roundtable discussion titled “The Future of Ukraine’s Security” in Kyiv. The event brought together experts from the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (CEIP) – a nonpartisan international affairs think tank based in Washington, D.C. – alongside prominent voices from Ukrainian analytical centers, civil society, and the political sphere.
Special thanks to the International Renaissance Foundation for the venue and supporting this vital discussion.
Participants discussed key developments in global politics and security, the humanitarian situation in Ukraine, prospects for a ceasefire and a peaceful settlement, prospects for the Russia-Ukraine talks in Turkey, as well as the scope of financial, economic, and military-technical assistance provided by the United States and the European Union. The conversation also addressed the state of U.S.-Ukraine relations, with experts noting the strategic significance of the recently signed U.S.-Ukraine Agreement establishing the Reconstruction Investment Fund.
Special attention was given to the prospects for Ukraine’s defense-industrial base, the country’s military build-up, and the broader socio-political dynamics at play. Experts praised the combat experience of Ukraine’s Armed Forces, stressing its relevance for NATO’s strategic planning, and highlighted Ukraine’s rapid military development as a potential role model for Western nations. However, they also emphasized the need to scale up production capacity, continue critical reforms to sustain momentum and urged for an inextricable role of Ukraine’s allies to further contribute to Ukraine’s security.
The discussion underscored that Ukraine’s security and defense remain vital not only to regional stability but also to the global security architecture. Experts expressed concern over growing fragility in the international system, citing challenges posed by China’s rise, Iran’s nuclear ambitions, and North Korea. In this context, they called for greater unity and coherence within the Transatlantic Alliance.
Despite shifting dynamics in domestic politics on both sides of the Atlantic, participants affirmed that the United States remains a steadfast strategic partner to Ukraine. Both nations, they agreed, are committed to deepening mutual trust, strengthening dialogue, and working toward an end to the war and a durable peace.
