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Home / Ukraine-Russia / Ukraine’s Strategic Place: From Frontline to Foundation · LMC 2026
Ukraine‑Russia, Europe and Eurasia, Ukraine

May 16, 2026

Ukraine’s Strategic Place: From Frontline to Foundation · LMC 2026

Ukraine has been holding the frontline of Europe. It now possesses war-fighting capabilities, battlefield-tested innovation, hard-won expertise in 21st-century warfare, and an institutional resilience that few can match. These are not assets to be unlocked upon Ukraine’s accession to the EU or NATO, but a foundation upon which Europe should start building its security. What does integration look like when it is designed not merely to admit but to embed? The conversation about Ukraine’s place has largely been framed around what Europe gives—we must now look at what Europe gains. How do we align Kyiv’s urgency and ambition with Brussels’ institutional weight and analytical rigour?

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Jennifer
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Senior Fellow & Director of Military Analysis

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