Taras Kachka meets with EU Commissioner Andrius Kubilius in Kyiv
On September 14, in Kyiv, Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, Taras Kachka, held a meeting with EU Commissioner for Defense and Space, Andrius Kubilius. The meeting was also attended by Oleksandr Ilkov, Director General of the Government Office for Coordination of European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, Thomas Lunau, Defense Adviser to the European Commission’s President Ursula von der Leyen, and members of Andrius Kubilius’s cabinet.
The parties paid particular attention to issues of defense industry and the architecture of future security guarantees. Taras Kachka confirmed that Ukraine is considering participation in EU initiatives and is ready to share its expertise in drones and cutting-edge technologies. Both sides agreed that, in the context of defense capabilities, Ukraine’s integration into the European Union is as crucial for the EU as it is for Ukraine.
“We have already proven our ability to effectively counter russian aggression. Now, our shared responsibility is to leverage this potential for mutual development and make Ukraine a key component of European security policy,” emphasized Taras Kachka.
Separately, the Deputy Prime Minister briefed the attendees on the outcomes of his visit to Budapest and meeting with Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó, underscoring Ukraine’s readiness to continue constructive dialogue. He also provided updates on the progress of negotiations with the European Union and partners regarding the opening of the first negotiation Cluster: Fundamentals of the EU Accession Process. The Ukrainian side stressed that opening this Cluster simultaneously with Moldova is an important political signal of unity and support. Taras Kachka highlighted Ukraine’s progress in implementing reforms as part of the EU accession process, particularly in the areas of rule of law and anti-corruption, noting significant developments in the functioning of key institutions.
Ukraine expressed gratitude to the European Commission and EU member states for substantial assistance, including military support, which has enabled effective resistance to russian aggression. The total volume of such support has exceeded EUR 63 billion since February 2022.
The discussions also confirmed the importance of new EU defense initiatives and tools, with Ukraine expressing readiness to contribute to joint efforts. Taras Kachka called on partners to continue investing in strengthening Ukraine’s defense capabilities. The parties agreed to maintain dialogue on deepening defense cooperation and developing mechanisms for future security guarantees that account for both Ukraine’s contributions and the resources of its allies.