Victor Pinchuk Foundation hosted a discussion ‘Innovation & Pragmatism UA Style - Vital for Europe’ during the YES Special Gathering on February 24, 2026

On 24 February 2026, the Victor Pinchuk Foundation and Yalta European Strategy (YES) held a discussion ‘Innovation & Pragmatism UA Style - Vital for Europe’ during the YES Special gathering on the occasion of the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. 

The discussion focused on the role of Ukraine’s army, defence industry, and technological innovation in strengthening Europe’s security. Participants included representatives of Ukraine’s defence industry, German and Finnish governments, and the international defence sector.

The discussion featured: Oleksandr Kamyshin, Advisor for Strategic Issues, JSC ‘Ukrainian Defense Industry’; Joachim Kaschke, Chief of Central Management Staff and Head of Special Staff on Ukraine, German Federal Ministry of Defence; Sven Kruck, Co-CEO, Quantum Systems; Sanna Marin, Prime Minister of Finland (2019-2023), Member, YES Board. Moderator: Carl Bild,  Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden (2006-2014); Prime Minister of Sweden (1991-1994); Co-Chair of ECFR; Member, YES Board.

Oleksandr Kamyshin shared insight on Ukraine’s defence industry transformation: “In 2022, we produced only 2,000 drones for the entire country. Today, one company produces 5,000 drones per day, and around 1,000 companies operate in Ukraine’s defense industry. It took us some time to get to this point.”

“In the air, more than 90% of Russian targets are now being engaged by drones. On the ground, last month alone we carried out 70,000 unmanned ground vehicle missions - logistics, medevac, combat engineering, mining and demining. In my view, unmanned ground vehicles are the next big thing - just as sea drones already transformed maritime warfare,” he added.

He also shared some details of Ukraine-Germany defence cooperation that has been recently launched: “Germany will be now funding 10,000 of drones produced in Germany and will send them to the front line. That's how we make our people stronger.” 

Sven Kruck shared his expertise on the development of defence technology in Germany: “In Germany, we are currently spending 1–2 billion euros, and this amount is increasing, particularly on unmanned systems. In the last eight months, I would say we have spent 400–500 billion euros on other systems, like tanks and other legacy equipment.”

“You always need a perfect symbiosis out of hardware, software and AI. There's still a path forward in 2026 to establish these elements and systems in a physical manner to get the data and AI done,” he said.

Joachim Kaschke raised the issue of the lack of industrial capacities in Europe for proper support of Ukraine: “Right now the real problem is not money and willingness. The real problem is industrial capacities. We need to bring up those capacities to have enduring possibilities of supporting Ukraine.”

“Ukraine needs us, yes, for support, but we also need Ukraine to learn from Ukraine”, he added.

Carl Bildt praised Ukraine’s success in defence innovation: “Four years ago, when this phase of the war began, Europe was focused on helping Ukraine by sending legacy systems — equipment produced for the Cold War and kept in our warehouses. That phase is largely over. Today, the focus has shifted to innovation: supporting Ukraine’s own defense industry, which already produces around 65% of what it needs — and that share will grow. The task now is to strengthen Ukraine’s innovation potential, not only for its own defense, but for the defense of Europe today and tomorrow.”

Sanna Marin shared her view on the role of NATO amid a looming Russian threat: “We need to explain to people why it is extremely important for every single European country, a NATO member state, to invest in their defense capabilities. And we must understand the Russian mindset - this is not only about Ukraine, but about rebuilding a larger Russian empire. The threat does not stop at one border, it concerns all of us.”

“If we just look at the latest news today - a NATO drill in Estonia - and consider the damage that a few Ukrainian drones can inflict on NATO battalions, the devastation is huge. Equally significant is the gap between NATO’s capabilities and Ukraine’s capabilities,” she said.

Sanna Marin also expressed hope that Ukraine would become a NATO member in the future: “I would wish to see Ukraine being part of the European Union, but also part of NATO. But not because of Ukraine, because Ukraine needs us. It's because we need Ukraine. We are not prepared, not technologically, we are not prepared to wage this modern warfare. And if we don't learn extremely fast, we will be extremely vulnerable.”

The YES Special Gathering on February 24 is a platform for an honest conversation about the price of freedom, the limits of endurance, and shared responsibility for the future of Europe. Four years on from the full-scale invasion, Ukraine remains on the front lines not only of its independence, but also of the security of the entire democratic world.

Photos are available here 

Video will be on YouTube  www.youtube.com/user/PinchukFoundation