Security and Defense Dimension

This closed roundtable will explore the role of energy and fuel security in strengthening regional resilience and defence preparedness in Central and Eastern Europe. Bringing together representatives of government, industry, and the defence sector from Poland and Ukraine, the discussion will focus on fuel logistics, critical infrastructure protection, defence-industrial cooperation, and technology transfer. Participants will examine how public and private actors can enhance energy security while supporting long-term defence and recovery objectives.

The Ukrainian Defence industry is an integral component of Europe’s future defence-industrial architecture. At the same time, international defence programmes (SAFE, EDF, EDIP, USI, UNITE–Brave NATO, Build with/in Ukraine) remain inaccessible to most Ukrainian manufacturers and their partners due to confusing rules, eligibility criteria and entry points. TFUA x Diia.City Union side-event closes that gap by providing clarity on cooperation instruments, direct engagement with programme decision-makers from NATO, EU Commission, UA and POL MOD, BGK.

This closed side event is designed for international companies, investors and policy stakeholders who are ready to move from interest in Ukraine’s defence industry to practical cooperation. Participants will get direct access to Ukrainian defence manufacturers, government representatives and sector experts, with a focus on investment, joint production, technology cooperation, Build with Ukraine formats and other real entry points into the market. The discussion will provide a clear understanding of where cooperation is possible now, what partners need to know before entering the sector, and how to build responsible, scalable and results-oriented partnerships with Ukraine’s defence industry.

The panel brings together senior policymakers, negotiators and leading academic experts — including Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister Taras Kachka and the Director Anna Jarosz-Friis from European Commission's DG ENEST — to discuss how Ukraine's gradual EU accession can become a source of European security, economic renewal and geopolitical strength rather than a burden. Building on an earlier expert workshop held in Warsaw, the session will examine the institutional and financial instruments (next MFF, a possible Ukraine Facility II, European industrial policy) needed to align reconstruction, sectoral integration and accession. The event will produce a two-page summary of key messages and policy recommendations to feed into the broader URC 2026 discussions in Gdańsk.

Ukrainian innovation is no longer just a story of resilience—it is a global strategic advantage. Born under pressure and proven at scale, our tech ecosystem has evolved into a powerhouse for high-growth companies and world-class unicorns. From historic IPOs on international exchanges to the rapid rise of DefenseTech, AI, and FinTech leaders, Ukrainian business is proving its position as a premier asset for global investors.

This event directly contributes to the URC 2026 Business and Security dimensions by focusing on practical investments into high-growth tech and dual-use defense technologies that drive Ukraine’s economic resilience

Ukraine’s defence sector is rapidly becoming an important component of broader European security and defence cooperation. This discussion will explore practical challenges and emerging approaches to strengthening trusted cooperation with Ukraine’s defence sector in the context of its wartime transformation, with a particular focus on governance, integrity and partnership considerations affecting long-term cooperation between Ukrainian and international stakeholders.

As Ukraine continues to adapt under the conditions of full-scale war, this closed-door discussion will explore how adaptive governance, defence innovation, and institutional resilience are reshaping the role of the state in times of prolonged crisis. Bringing together senior representatives of governments, European institutions, international organisations, and the defence ecosystem, the event will introduce BRDO’s Adaptive State concept and the Defence First approach as frameworks for strengthening both Ukraine’s recovery and Europe’s long-term security. Participation is by registration and confirmation from the organisers.

This exclusive, closed-format working dinner will bring together a select group of up to 30 distinguished guests, including Government leaders and Ministers from key nations steadfastly supporting Ukraine. Convened under the theme "Securing Peace in Ukraine: Guarantees, Recovery, and the Road Ahead," the event provides a discreet, high-level platform to deliberate on the critical geopolitical prerequisites for sustainable reconstruction. Discussions will focus on defining credible security guarantees, mapping Ukraine’s integration into the Euro-Atlantic order. By addressing anti-corruption safeguards and international financial coordination, this strategic dialogue aims to forge a shared understanding of how to balance immediate stabilization with long-term economic resilience.

The event aims to demonstrate to international partners practical examples of how technology can serve people even in the most difficult circumstances of war, while also launching a discussion on the ethical principles governing the use of emerging technologies in recovery and security efforts.

Through the personal story of a wounded servicemember and real-life examples of Ukrainian technological innovation, participants will gain insight into the human dimension of technological development during wartime.