My first year at Stanford deepened my interest in international security, particularly in relation to Ukraine and Europe. That passion led me to spend my summer as a National Security Innovation Scholar at the Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation (GKC). The Center tackles the challenges of great power competition by training the next generation of national security leaders to think and act with innovation. Based at Stanford and embedded in the heart of Silicon Valley’s innovation ecosystem, GKC equips the United States and its allies to compete and adapt in an uncertain future.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has catalyzed a wave of battlefield-driven defense innovation, transforming Ukraine into a hub of fast-paced and ever-changing technological development. At the same time, Europe’s private sector is experiencing record-breaking investment and startup activity in defense, driven by new policies and the need for modernization. The convergence of Ukrainian wartime ingenuity and Western capital and industrial ecosystems formed the heart of my research. My role was to investigate how these forces are interacting, what opportunities they present, and where risks remain.

To achieve this, I conducted interviews with experts from across Europe, the United States, and Ukraine, including government officials, military officers, private investors, and entrepreneurs. These conversations helped me frame my research around three central questions: how Ukraine sees its future cooperation with Europe and the contributions it can make to strengthening European security; what patterns and drivers are shaping private-sector investment in defense technology; and in what ways the Ukrainian and Western defense industries are beginning to integrate, along with the benefits and challenges of that process.

One of my primary objectives was to develop a research framework that would provide policymakers, investors, and industry leaders with insights into these questions and offer actionable recommendations. I am still in the process of writing my final report, but already several important themes have emerged. Innovation cycles in Ukraine move at extraordinary speed—sometimes as short as two days from idea to battlefield deployment. The government has worked hard to sustain this momentum, easing export controls to promote the sale of defense technologies abroad, launching new initiatives for joint ventures with European companies, and pursuing agreements such as drone production deals with the United States. These efforts are contributing not only to Ukraine’s resilience but also to greater European security.

Yet the challenges I uncovered were equally prominent. Ukrainian companies face intellectual property theft from Western firms. Some startups outside Ukraine claim to be “battle-proven” without ever having been tested in real combat, raising serious concerns about credibility. And despite slow but growing enthusiasm in venture capital circles, larger and more traditional investors—such as banks and pension funds—remain reluctant to engage in defense-specific technologies. The result is an environment filled with promise but also uncertainty, where progress can sometimes outpace regulation and oversight.

What impressed me most was the sheer speed of change. Problems that seemed insurmountable when I first noted them were sometimes addressed just weeks later. As a researcher, this meant that the ground was constantly shifting beneath me, making it challenging to write down firm conclusions. As a Ukrainian, however, it filled me with pride. Witnessing the determination of my government and the strength of our people gave me a sense of hope that statistics and reports alone could never capture.

This experience has significantly shaped my career path. It provided me with the opportunity to conduct policy-relevant research at the intersection of security, governance, and investment—an area I hope to continue working in after Stanford. It also sharpened my ability to navigate complex, rapidly evolving issues where the lines between national security, private capital, and international cooperation blur.

Looking back on the summer, the highlight for me was the chance to speak with experts who, despite their busy schedules, generously shared their visions, insights, and even doubts about the future of security and investment. Yet none of this work would be possible without the courageous men and women on the frontline. I thank them for their service and bravery, for protecting Ukraine’s skies and our homes, and for making it possible for me to be writing this nearly four years into the war, when many once predicted that Kyiv would fall in just three days.

Slava Ukraini! Heroyam Slava!