Key Takeaways:
- Ukraine’s Army Is Europe’s Most Battle-Ready Force: Dunda argues that Ukraine is the only European army capable of defending the eastern flank and should be treated as integral to the continent’s security.
- Old Alliances Are Failing: Existing European defense structures are outdated, fragmented, and lack the political will to respond to modern threats.
- A New Commonwealth Is Needed: The coalition of the willing must evolve into a core alliance of reform-minded states with shared values and the courage to act independently.
- Radical Military Reform Is Inevitable: European forces must modernize ideologically and structurally — and should draw from Ukraine’s wartime experience to rebuild effectively.
Transcript – Oleh Dunda
Member of the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian Parliament), Co-chair of the Subcommittee on Construction and Design
Remarks at the Westminster Alliance for Ukraine Event
The title of this conference — “Making the Coalition of the Willing a Reality” — is very significant. But we must ask: what exactly is this coalition of the willing? There are different interpretations, and today, I’d like to offer mine — shaped by the Ukrainian reality in 2025.
We are living through a time of profound transformation. The so-called “end of history,” as described by Fukuyama, is itself ending. Everything established after the Second World War is now breaking down:
Defense alliances are fracturing.
Warfighting strategies and battle management techniques are evolving.
Economic and political partnerships are shifting.
Old alliances and their members now perceive threats differently. Just look at Finland, Hungary, Turkey — each has a distinct threat perception. The old rules no longer apply. The old worldview no longer works.
We are standing at a crossroads:
Either we cling to outdated systems and risk losing everything…
Or we accept the new reality, embrace change, and build a real coalition of the willing.
That change begins by accepting some hard truths:
- The only combat-ready army in Europe today is the Ukrainian army.
- The Ukrainian army is the only force capable of defending Europe’s eastern flank — including the Baltic region.
- The coalition of the willing must see Ukraine’s army as its own — an extension of the British or French armies.
- The geopolitical and military balance of power has shifted. It’s not 2022 anymore.
In addition, Europe must face a new reality of warfare in space and cyberspace. Without control in these domains, Europe risks becoming a subordinate territory — to either the United States or China. In global competition, it will lose its edge.
European military forces, in their current form, are morally and ideologically outdated. They need deep, systemic modernization — and the Ukrainian military experience offers a clear path forward.
Finally, we must admit that Europe’s existing alliances are weak. They have grown in quantity, not quality. A true coalition of the willing must become a new commonwealth of states — those ready to embrace reform, accept shared threats, and act decisively, even if it means dismantling outdated institutions.
Only such a coalition — built on shared values, strategic clarity, and political will — can withstand the storms of geopolitical turbulence.
Many thanks to Roger for organizing this event. The road ahead will be long and difficult — but I am confident we can walk it together.
