The role of Ukraine in reshaping Europe’s modern security architecture and transforming NATO’s approach to defense is key, said Krzysztof Król, lieutenant general and adviser to the Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces, during the 18th annual Kyiv Security Forum on the theme “Darkness or Dawn: Is There Light Ahead?”
According to him, Ukraine’s main achievement has been its ability to withstand the initial phase of the full-scale invasion and quickly adapt to new conditions of warfare.
“Russians are used to winning the first battle and then the war. Ukraine’s greatest achievement is that it withstood the first удар and managed to hold on. At the same time, Ukraine has created and developed a new military and political culture, which we are now observing as a process of state transformation,” Król said.
He stressed that these changes affect not only the army, but also state governance and the national resilience system. In addition, Ukraine, he said, has demonstrated an unprecedented level of development in modern capabilities – drones, satellite communications, 24/7 access to intelligence information, and high-level data exchange.
“All of this is impressive. We can see how legislation is changing, how state resilience is developing as a whole. This concerns not only the military but the entire government. This adaptation has already become part of your defense base. In Poland and NATO countries, we are also trying to implement these approaches,” he added.
The general also recalled that at the 2022 summit, the Alliance changed its strategic concept, shifting its focus from collective defense to deterrence and defense.
“We are working to increase readiness for a rapid and decisive response. To do this, capabilities must be strengthened, and this is what NATO countries are currently doing,” he said.
Król also noted that Poland has significantly accelerated the modernization of its armed forces.
“For the first time in over 100 years, Poland has begun a large-scale revival of its army. We made an unprecedented decision to allocate about 5% of GDP to defense. These are not declarations, but real capability building for deterrence and protection,” he emphasized.
