At the 2025 State of the Union Address to the European Parliament, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen placed a strong emphasis on developing a framework of long-term security guarantees for Ukraine. Accordingly, the Defence Readiness Roadmap released in October includes a specific initiative dedicated to “making Ukraine a ‘steel porcupine’ by harnessing its Qualitative Military Edge”. The paper analyses what this effort should look like in practice, including partnerships in the defence industry, ensuring reliable ammunition supplies, and offering improved training through the EU Military Assistance Mission (EUMAM) in support of Ukraine. At the same time, ensuring that Ukraine can deter future aggressions is crucial for Europe’s own security. The creation of joint ventures between Ukrainian and European companies, as part of the announced Drone Alliance, showcases how Member States can benefit from Kyiv’s battlefield experience and innovative ingenuity in countering the threats posed by Russia.