Ukraine’s battlefield experience in drones, electronic warfare, and modern combat is already becoming a key element of Europe’s military rearmament, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said during his speech at the Bucharest Nine summit.
The Bucharest Nine (B9) includes Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Hungary, and the Czech Republic. The group was created to deepen military cooperation among NATO’s eastern flank countries.
The summit is taking place in Romania, which borders four Ukrainian regions — Odesa, Chernivtsi, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Zakarpattia in the west of Ukraine.
While the summit was underway, Russia launched its largest drone attack against the west of Ukraine. For the first time, drones reached Zakarpattia Oblast. The attack has already killed six civilians.
Europe shifts toward the Ukrainian model of warfare
According to Zelenskyy, modern warfare is no longer determined only by the number of tanks or missiles.
“It is not enough to simply possess weapons — real combat experience and the same speed of adaptation as the threat itself are also required,” the president stressed.
He said Ukrainian forces now possess unique experience in high-tech warfare that is already influencing the transformation of European armies.
Ukrainian combat experience to become part of Europe’s rearmament strategy
Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine’s experience should be incorporated into the EU SAFE program, aimed at rearming European countries and restructuring the defense industry for the realities of modern war.
This involves not only FPV drones or electronic warfare systems, but also constant tactical adaptation, rapid battlefield integration of technology, and the ability to respond quickly to new threats.
At the same time, Zelenskyy said Ukraine continues diplomatic contacts with the US and expects the issue of ending the war to be raised during talks between Washington and China.
“Sanctions work, our long-range capabilities work, and every form of pressure works,” the president said.
He emphasized that the decisive factor in the war remains the ability to physically stop the Russian army.
