Strategic Planning and Tactics in The Ukrainian-Russian War: What Should European Armies Implement and Avoid?

This paper’s purpose is to examine strategic and tactical lessons to be learned from the Ukrainian-Russian war and offer European armies recommendations for future preventive and defensive measures. Through analysing both warring parties’ engagement in war, this paper shows that Russian entrenching strategy is successful in containing Ukrainian forces, and using surveillance drones is an effective method of preventing surprise attacks from the adversaries’ army. Further benefits and deficiencies of Russian offense and Ukrainian defence strategies are discussed. This comparative analysis provides European armies with recommendations for implementations and avoidances.

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Romania’s Defence Industrial Sector: The long road towards Modernisation and Readiness

Romania’s strategic geopolitical location between the Balkans and the Black Sea, coupled with recent international tensions, has placed it at the heart of NATO and EU defence strategies. Historically burdened by post-communist industrial decline, Romania is revitalising its defence sector through international partnerships and EU-led initiatives like the Act in Support of Ammunition Production (ASAP). However, persistent challenges within national defence company ROMARM, such as management inefficiencies, outdated technology, workforce aging, and restrictive state ownership policies, continue to impede the pace and scope of modernisation. Addressing these limitations is essential for sustaining Romania’s defence sector revitalisation. Ultimately, the effectiveness of Romania’s modernisation efforts will determine its contribution to regional stability and broader European defence resilience.

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From Resilience to Deterrence: Is the EU Shifting Toward Proactive Cyber Defence?

This paper examines the European Union’s evolving cyber defence strategy in response to the growing integration of cyber operations into hybrid warfare. It traces the EU’s doctrinal shift from a reactive, resilience-based posture to one that increasingly embraces proactive deterrence, including the potential use of offensive capabilities. By analysing key strategic documents and highlighting the case of France, the study illustrates both progress and limitations. While conceptual advances are evident, practical implementation remains a national competence. The paper concludes that translating strategic ambition into credible cyber deterrence will require legal clarity, interoperability, and coordinated capability development.

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ReArm Europe: European Response to European Problems

Following Trump’s re-election and his statement on NATO – “if you are not going to pay your bills, we are not going to defend you” (NBC News, 2023) – along with JD Vance’s remarks at the Munich Security Conference and their tense Oval Office meeting with Zelensky, a strong response from EU countries became inevitable. The US has made it clear that NATO allies failing to meet the 2% defence spending threshold cannot expect American protection, casting doubt on the applicability of Article 5 of the Washington Treaty to certain members. This policy shift not only shakes NATO and the EU but also signals a shift in US military engagement in Europe. Washington will now decide where to plan and exercise based on defence budgets, potentially reducing or repositioning its presence on the continent (Kube, Lee, & Tskirkin, 2025).

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The joint action of the EU and NATO in Ukraine: are we doing enough?

In February 2022, Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. This decision forced the European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) to take more decisive action in supporting Ukraine’s defence of its territory. For example, many EU member states increased their defence spending and sent weaponry to Ukraine. However, the interoperability issue remains pertinent as the European Defence and Technological and Industrial Base (EDTIB) is structurally fragmented. Moreover, given Ukraine’s inheritance of Soviet-era weaponry, further training and logistical difficulties have arisen, posing setbacks and challenges to Ukraine’s effective defence strategies. This paper will discuss the joint action of the EU and NATO and its impact on Ukraine’s defence of its territory. The analysis will focus on the evolution of financial mechanisms and the creation of a military mission on the ground that complements nonmilitary efforts. Following this, it explores NATO’s complementary action, reinforcing cooperation with Ukraine and boosting armament in the East. Finally, the paper analyses hybrid threats in the examined case and problematises about a way forward through EU-NATO joint action.

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