Earlier this month, President Donald Trump sat down with Russia’s leader, Vladimir Putin, in Alaska, marking the start of a high-stakes bid to end the war in Ukraine.
While momentum for peace has brought the trans-Atlantic allies together, consensus on the terms of ending the war remains elusive.
If Russia perceives the outcome in Ukraine as a victory, European allies worry they could be next. Germany’s chief of defense has recently warned that Russia can attack NATO in the next four years, potentially targeting the Baltics, and triggering Article 5.
The renewed threat of Russian aggression underscores an urgent truth: Europe must accelerate its military build-up and adopt a credible strategy of deterrence rooted in collective defense.
Encouragingly, several European nations are beginning to act. Estonia announced its plans to borrow up to $4.1 billion with European Commission support to boost defense capabilities through joint arms purchases with allies.
The loan will help finance medium- and short-range air defense missiles, artillery shells, infantry fighting vehicles, and other key equipment.
Acknowledging that Russia’s war goals “go beyond Ukraine,” Germany’s cabinet has approved a draft law to accelerate arms procurement for the military, naming it a “quantum leap” for national security.
The legislation is designed to cut red tape, streamline acquisitions, and ensure the German Armed Forces can buy weapons and equipment faster, with fewer bureaucratic hurdles.
These measures mark an important step toward a stronger Europe, but they must go further.
The real question is not only how much Europe spends, but on what.
Russia’s war in Ukraine has tested the efficiency of modern armaments and exposed glaring weaknesses in many Western systems.
While some industry giants failed to deliver reliable performance, Ukraine filled the gap with homegrown alternatives — equipment designed under fire and proven in battle. According to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine’s defense industry now accounts for around 40% of the weapons and equipment used by its armed forces.
Trump, capitalizing on his business acumen, was the first to recognize the potential of the Ukrainian defense industry.
He’s floated the idea of a “mega deal,” which would see the U.S. buy Ukrainian UAVs, acknowledging their battlefield-tested value.
The details of the deal were elaborated further in the most recent meeting between Trump and his Ukrainian counterpart, specifying that the deal amounting to $50 billion would see joint production of Ukrainian drones in the U.S.
The war in Ukraine has become the most drone-intensive conflict in history.
Unmanned aerial vehicles have eroded Russia’s traditional advantages in troop numbers, artillery, and tanks, forcing a radical rethink of 21st-century warfare.
For Europe, the lesson is clear — ramping up drone procurement must be a central priority.
Particularly, the Ukrainian usage of its nighttime heavy bomber drone fleet often called “Baba Yaga” has been critical in achieving tactical successes.
The fleet includes several models such as the Vampire, R18, Nemesis, and Kazhan (“Bat”).
Reactive Drone’s Kazhan (“Bat”) drone is known for its versatility: it can be equipped with any NATO-standard ammunition, from artillery shells and tank rounds to mines and missiles.
The Bat is equipped with jamming-resistant navigation, and can withstand harsh winter temperatures. The E620 Kazhan’s night-fighting capabilities have made it particularly
feared, earning its name “Bat” for devastating nighttime strikes.
Unlike many commercial-grade Western drones, the Kazhan is purpose-built for combat and optimized for night-time use.
Additionally, for countries that face hybrid threats, or border issues, the drone’s battlefield utility extends beyond conventional warfighting.
Its relatively simple training requirements and battle-tested design also make it suitable for rapid adoption by forces with limited UAV experience.
Ultimately, Ukrainian drones such as Kazhan represent a new class of combat drones: ones that combine purpose-built lethality, logistical compatibility, and affordability, offering nations a chance to dramatically expand their defensive and offensive capabilities without entering the prohibitive cost cycle of manned aviation or legacy UAV systems.
The importance of drones in modern warfare has been recognized not only by the NATO allies but also by countries sympathetic to Russia.
Most recently, Serbia has signed a major deal worth $1.63 billion with Israel’s defense firm Elbit Systems that will see the Israeli firm supply Serbia with a wide range of weapons and systems to upgrade its capabilities as part of an ongoing modernization process.
The package includes Elbit’s largest drone, the Hermes 900, along with long-range precision missiles, electronic warfare systems, and command-and-control platforms designed to enhance battlefield operations.
Such development is raising concerns in the Balkans, where countries like Kosovo have been experiencing Serbian aggression.
Hence, ramping up on battlefield-tested drones such as Reactive Drone’s Kazhan (“Bat”) is essential not only for NATO members but also for other European countries like Kosovo that are not part of the alliance to be able to prepare for any future uncertainties.
For Europe, the stakes could not be higher.
A premature peace in Ukraine that leaves Russia emboldened would invite further aggression. Correspondingly, Europe can’t depend indefinitely on American taxpayers to underwrite its security.
To demonstrate seriousness about its own defense — and to preserve the trans-Atlantic alliance on a balanced footing — Europe must prioritize not only greater defense spending, but more strategic investments.
That means turning to Ukraine.
No other country has battle-tested its defense industry against the Russian military machine in the way Ukraine has.
Its drones have transformed the battlefield, offsetting Russia’s numerical advantages and providing a model for cost-effective deterrence.
As President Trump has signaled, embracing Ukrainian technology is not only sound strategy but also sound business.
Ivan Sascha Sheehan is a professor of Public and International affairs and the associate dean of the College of Public Affairs at the University of Baltimore. Opinions expressed are his own. Follow him on X @ProfSheehan. Read More — Here.
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