f95009a1-ae60-4d22-a57b-60c9af898fb8

Autor foto: Fundacja im. Kazimierza Pułaskiego I Maciej Rałowski

Advanced Research Workshop: Facilitating Ukraine’s Transition to NATO Standards

Published: January 31, 2025

f95009a1-ae60-4d22-a57b-60c9af898fb8

Autor foto: Fundacja im. Kazimierza Pułaskiego I Maciej Rałowski

Advanced Research Workshop: Facilitating Ukraine’s Transition to NATO Standards

Opublikowano: January 31, 2025

Advanced Research Workshop: Facilitating Ukraine’s Transition to NATO Standards
28-29 January, 2025 | Rome, Italy

Organized by the Casimir Pulaski Foundation, in cooperation with the International Centre for Ukrainian Victory (ICUV) and the Istituto Affari Internazionali (IAI), and supported by the NATO Science for Peace and Security Programme, the two-day workshop brought together leading experts to discuss Ukraine’s path toward NATO integration.

Day 1: Defense Reforms and Modernization Efforts

The workshop commenced with opening remarks by prof. Katarzyna Pisarska, Chair of the Warsaw Security Forum, and Nathalie Tocci, Director of IAI. As part of the welcome remarks Jean-Charles Ellermann-Kingombe, NATO Assistant Secretary General for Innovation, Hybrid, and Cyber, highlighted the role of innovation in defense strategies. Meanwhile, Brig. Gen. Danilo Morando, Director of ISSMI, underscored the importance of military education and collaboration.

Panel I: Defense Reforms – Lessons Learnt from Previous NATO Enlargements

Experts explored Ukraine’s progress in aligning its Armed Forces with NATO standards, and the political reforms needed for further integration.

  • Daniel Fried – Distinguished Fellow, Atlantic Council, former U.S. Ambassador to Poland  during accession to NATO, USA
  • Daria Kaleniuk – Co-Founder, International Centre for Ukrainian Victory, Ukraine
  • Linas Linkevičius – Ambassador of Lithuania to Sweden, Minister of Foreign Affairs (2012-2020), Minister of National Defence (1993-1996, 2000-2004), Lithuania
  • Janusz Onyszkiewicz – Minister of National Defence (1992-1993,1997-2000), Poland

Panel moderator : Katarzyna Pisarska – Chair, Warsaw Security Forum, Casimir Pulaski Foundation, Poland

Panel II: Modernization and Transformation of Ukrainian Armed Forces

Procedural, doctrinal, and structural transformations essential for Ukraine’s military modernization were examined during this session. 

  • Lt. Gen. (R) Andrzej Fałkowski – Senior Fellow, Casimir Pulaski Foundation, Poland
  • Lt. Gen. (R) Ben Hodges – Commanding General of US Army Europe (2014-2018), USA
  • Lt. Gen. Krzysztof Król – Chief of Staff of Allied Joint Force Command (2020-2023), Brunssum, Poland
  • Yulia Marushevska – Head of  Reforms Support Office, Ministry of Defence, Ukraine
  • Wes Rumbaugh – Fellow, Missile Defense Project, CSIS, U.S. 

Moderator: Tomasz Smura – Member of the Board, Director of International Security and Defence Programme, Casimir Pulaski Foundation, Poland

Panel III: Cooperation with NATO in Cybersecurity, Hybrid Threats, and the Defense Industry

The final panel of the day focused on NATO-Ukraine cooperation in cybersecurity and hybrid defense, emphasizing Ukraine’s expertise in countering cyber threats.

  • Omar Ashour – Professor of Security and Military Studies, UK
  • Anett Numa – Head of Government Relations and Communications, Accelerate Estonia
  • Olesya Vinhas de Souza – Researcher, Defence College, NATO

Panel moderator : Karolina Muti – Senior Fellow, Istituto Affari Internazionali, Italy

Day 2: Countering Disinformation and Strengthening Democratic Oversight

The second day centered on the challenges connected to information warfare and governance in relation to Ukraine’s defense sector 

Panel IV: Protecting Ukrainian Armed Forces from Disinformation

Experts addressed strategies for fighting against disinformation campaigns targeting Ukraine’s Armed Forces, and fostering public resilience.

  • Oana Lungescu – Distinguished Fellow, Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), NATO Spokesperson (2010-2023), Germany
  • Chris Riley – Head of Digital Insight and Information Threats, Public Diplomacy Division, NATO
  • Liubov Tsybulska – Former Head of Centre for Strategic Communication and Information Security, Ukraine
  • Anna Wieslander – Director for Northern Europe, Atlantic Council, Sweden

Panel moderator : Wojciech Dzięgiel – Member of the Board, Casimir Pulaski Foundation, Poland

Panel V: Civilian Control over Armed Forces and Anti-Corruption Procedures

The final session explored the importance of civilian oversight, anti-corruption measures, and legal reforms required for NATO enlargement .
Panel speakers :

  • Paweł Kowal – Member of the Polish Sejm, Government Plenipotentiary for Polish-Ukrainian Development Cooperation, Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Poland
  • Marko Mihkelson – Member of Parliament, Chairman of Foreign Affairs Committee, Member of NATO Parliamentary Assembly, Estonia
  • Daria Kaleniuk – Co-Founder, International Centre for Ukrainian Victory, Ukraine

Panel moderator : Hanna Hopko – Co-Founder, International Center for Ukrainian Victory, Head of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Verkhovna Rada (2014-2019), Ukraine

Conclusions 

The workshop served as a comprehensive platform  for discussing Ukraine’s NATO integration, with particular emphasis on defense modernization, cybersecurity cooperation, and democratic reforms. Distinguished experts and policymakers underscored the significance of continued NATO support and strategic cooperation to bolster Ukraine’s security and stability in the region.

🔗 Learn more: NATO Science for Peace and Security Programme

Advanced Research Workshop: Facilitating Ukraine’s Transition to NATO Standards
28-29 January, 2025 | Rome, Italy

Organized by the Casimir Pulaski Foundation, in cooperation with the International Centre for Ukrainian Victory (ICUV) and the Istituto Affari Internazionali (IAI), and supported by the NATO Science for Peace and Security Programme, the two-day workshop brought together leading experts to discuss Ukraine’s path toward NATO integration.

Day 1: Defense Reforms and Modernization Efforts

The workshop commenced with opening remarks by prof. Katarzyna Pisarska, Chair of the Warsaw Security Forum, and Nathalie Tocci, Director of IAI. As part of the welcome remarks Jean-Charles Ellermann-Kingombe, NATO Assistant Secretary General for Innovation, Hybrid, and Cyber, highlighted the role of innovation in defense strategies. Meanwhile, Brig. Gen. Danilo Morando, Director of ISSMI, underscored the importance of military education and collaboration.

Panel I: Defense Reforms – Lessons Learnt from Previous NATO Enlargements

Experts explored Ukraine’s progress in aligning its Armed Forces with NATO standards, and the political reforms needed for further integration.

  • Daniel Fried – Distinguished Fellow, Atlantic Council, former U.S. Ambassador to Poland  during accession to NATO, USA
  • Daria Kaleniuk – Co-Founder, International Centre for Ukrainian Victory, Ukraine
  • Linas Linkevičius – Ambassador of Lithuania to Sweden, Minister of Foreign Affairs (2012-2020), Minister of National Defence (1993-1996, 2000-2004), Lithuania
  • Janusz Onyszkiewicz – Minister of National Defence (1992-1993,1997-2000), Poland

Panel moderator : Katarzyna Pisarska – Chair, Warsaw Security Forum, Casimir Pulaski Foundation, Poland

Panel II: Modernization and Transformation of Ukrainian Armed Forces

Procedural, doctrinal, and structural transformations essential for Ukraine’s military modernization were examined during this session. 

  • Lt. Gen. (R) Andrzej Fałkowski – Senior Fellow, Casimir Pulaski Foundation, Poland
  • Lt. Gen. (R) Ben Hodges – Commanding General of US Army Europe (2014-2018), USA
  • Lt. Gen. Krzysztof Król – Chief of Staff of Allied Joint Force Command (2020-2023), Brunssum, Poland
  • Yulia Marushevska – Head of  Reforms Support Office, Ministry of Defence, Ukraine
  • Wes Rumbaugh – Fellow, Missile Defense Project, CSIS, U.S. 

Moderator: Tomasz Smura – Member of the Board, Director of International Security and Defence Programme, Casimir Pulaski Foundation, Poland

Panel III: Cooperation with NATO in Cybersecurity, Hybrid Threats, and the Defense Industry

The final panel of the day focused on NATO-Ukraine cooperation in cybersecurity and hybrid defense, emphasizing Ukraine’s expertise in countering cyber threats.

  • Omar Ashour – Professor of Security and Military Studies, UK
  • Anett Numa – Head of Government Relations and Communications, Accelerate Estonia
  • Olesya Vinhas de Souza – Researcher, Defence College, NATO

Panel moderator : Karolina Muti – Senior Fellow, Istituto Affari Internazionali, Italy

Day 2: Countering Disinformation and Strengthening Democratic Oversight

The second day centered on the challenges connected to information warfare and governance in relation to Ukraine’s defense sector 

Panel IV: Protecting Ukrainian Armed Forces from Disinformation

Experts addressed strategies for fighting against disinformation campaigns targeting Ukraine’s Armed Forces, and fostering public resilience.

  • Oana Lungescu – Distinguished Fellow, Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), NATO Spokesperson (2010-2023), Germany
  • Chris Riley – Head of Digital Insight and Information Threats, Public Diplomacy Division, NATO
  • Liubov Tsybulska – Former Head of Centre for Strategic Communication and Information Security, Ukraine
  • Anna Wieslander – Director for Northern Europe, Atlantic Council, Sweden

Panel moderator : Wojciech Dzięgiel – Member of the Board, Casimir Pulaski Foundation, Poland

Panel V: Civilian Control over Armed Forces and Anti-Corruption Procedures

The final session explored the importance of civilian oversight, anti-corruption measures, and legal reforms required for NATO enlargement .
Panel speakers :

  • Paweł Kowal – Member of the Polish Sejm, Government Plenipotentiary for Polish-Ukrainian Development Cooperation, Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Poland
  • Marko Mihkelson – Member of Parliament, Chairman of Foreign Affairs Committee, Member of NATO Parliamentary Assembly, Estonia
  • Daria Kaleniuk – Co-Founder, International Centre for Ukrainian Victory, Ukraine

Panel moderator : Hanna Hopko – Co-Founder, International Center for Ukrainian Victory, Head of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Verkhovna Rada (2014-2019), Ukraine

Conclusions 

The workshop served as a comprehensive platform  for discussing Ukraine’s NATO integration, with particular emphasis on defense modernization, cybersecurity cooperation, and democratic reforms. Distinguished experts and policymakers underscored the significance of continued NATO support and strategic cooperation to bolster Ukraine’s security and stability in the region.

🔗 Learn more: NATO Science for Peace and Security Programme