Rebuild Ukraine Forum 2026 / Panel XIVa / 23 October 2026

The discussions centered on future trajectories of the war, frontline developments, the efficiency of unmanned systems, global geopolitical pressures and the evolving security architecture. Opening the session, Emmanuel Dupuy emphasised that Ukraine is holding its ground and has reclaimed more territory than Russia has captured, while cautioning that domestic political hurdles and upcoming European elections (in France, Italy, Spain and Poland) require clear and simple communication to voters on why supporting Ukraine remains vital. He also noted that France produces only 1,000 drones annually, focusing on larger and more expensive models. Valentyn Nalyvaichenko stressed that scaling unmanned systems is essential, noting that Ukraine actively contributes to continental security, has temporarily banned arms exports to prioritise front-line defence and is expanding joint ventures and bilateral technological agreements.

Examining global and strategic implications, Shogo Akagawa warned that European unity is paramount, stressing that negotiations leaning in Russia’s favour would embolden multiple threats across the Indo-Pacific region, and advocated close cooperation among Pacific democracies. Robert Hamilton pointed out that while the frontline stabilised through 2026 and Ukrainian drone strikes have proven remarkably effective, Russia’s vast geographic expanse is turning into a liability against Ukrainian strike capabilities. Hamilton observed that Ukrainian forces have mastered Western weapon systems, often outperforming their original creators, and suggested that Ukraine work directly with defence tech companies to move faster than US government processes allow. Ambassador Tacan İldem reaffirmed that Türkiye views Ukraine as a strategic partner and firmly refuses to recognise occupied territories, arguing that while a premature ceasefire would be detrimental, diplomatic avenues must be used carefully alongside long-range precision strikes.

In the concluding debates, panellists underscored the urgency of fostering robust “strategic responsibility” across Europe in place of abstract concepts, enforcing strict sanctions on third-country enablers of Russia, applying diplomatic pressure on Russia’s allies and reinforcing conventional deterrence on NATO’s eastern flank through strong bilateral ties and a unified European defence industrial base.