Ukraine needs to stop shying away from nuclear weapons talk, offer its potential to Europe – military expert

The expert explained that when we talk about deterrence forces, Europe has three key strategic components: long-range systems, including ballistic and anti-missile systems, and the nuclear component. Currently, no European country can produce systems that compete with those of the U.S., so we must combine forces to create such systems together, possibly with U.S. cooperation.

“We should stop being shy about nuclear weapons. The belief that it's wrong was instilled in us 30 years ago. Europe needs a self-sufficient nuclear deterrent against Russia and should be able to defend itself without the U.S. … Right now, it’s not enough, and Ukraine has something to offer in this area. Europe needs to understand this, and Ukraine should not be afraid to offer its potential,” Mykhailo Samus said.

He also noted that there's no need to separate Ukraine from Europe in the fight against Russia: success can only come through unity, as Russia is destabilizing the continent.

Samus further commented that signing any agreements with Russia is pointless. These agreements will always be broken because the empire's core goal is to destroy Ukraine.

“The empire will use any pause to rebuild its strength. Western partners must understand this: the pause isn’t a chance to relax or lift sanctions. The pause is to strengthen Ukraine and weaken Russia,” the expert concluded.

The roundtable was organized by the Defense Information Consortium, a group of leading analysts from Ukrainian and international research centers specializing in security and defense. It gathered experts from organizations like the National Institute for Strategic Studies, Defense Express Information and Consulting, the Center for Army, Conversion, and Disarmament Studies, and others.

Security and defense experts within the consortium prepare reports to address Ukraine’s defense needs. The consortium started its work in early 2024, and its official launch took place at the Via Carpatia Forum in Kyiv.