On September 30, at the Center for Public Analytics “Vezha,” Valeriy Klochok and Illia Neskhodovsky discussed Europe's and the United States' readiness for modern security challenges. The focus was on perspectives for defense support to Ukraine, the role of drones in warfare, and the impact of Western leaders' political rhetoric.
A key topic was the shift in approaches to defense spending. Former NATO Secretary General and current Norwegian finance minister Jens Stoltenberg emphasized the need to reallocate budgets in favor of defense. Europe continues preparations, including mobilizing reservists.
Statements from international leaders about “preparing for war to ensure peace” were considered. Studio guest Illia Neskhodovsky highlighted the frequent changes in political rhetoric, making it hard to forecast real actions, especially regarding sanctions policy on Russia and its effectiveness.
The discussion analyzed Ukraine’s role as the main barrier against Russian aggression towards Europe, as well as military innovation. The mass deployment of drones has fundamentally changed the military balance. European nations recognize they are not ready for a new kind of war and that significant investment in modern technology is required for effective opposition.
The slowness of European bureaucracy in allocating defense funds was especially noted, despite a pledged 2 billion euros for Ukrainian drones. In comparison, Russia and China are increasing both military cooperation and innovation pace.
The transfer of cutting-edge technology to Ukraine was addressed: the USA is investing in drone and electronic warfare development but expects benefits for its own defense sector. Denmark and a few other European nations show more readiness for genuine cooperation.
Experts concluded that Europe’s and the United States’ defense capabilities need strategic change and faster reaction—both in military development and financial decisions—to counter challenges from modernized armies and new technologies, especially drones.
