Conference: US-Ukraine Security Dialogue XVIII:Taking Measure of Ukraine’s Defense Capabilities & Needs After Four Years of War

February 25, 2026
Related Categories: Cybersecurity and Cyberwarfare; Democracy and Governance; Economic Sanctions; Energy Security; Europe Military; Human Rights and Humanitarian Issues; Intelligence and Counterintelligence; International Economics and Trade; Military Innovation; Public Diplomacy and Information Operations; Terrorism; Warfare; NATO; Corruption; Baltics; Estonia; Europe; Lithuania; Russia; Ukraine
Related Expert: Anna Harvey,  Herman Pirchner, Jr.,  Ilan I. Berman

"US-Ukraine Security Dialogue XVIII: Taking Measure of Ukraine’s Defense Capabilities & Needs After a Fourth Year of War" took place on February 25, 2026, at the University Club of Washington, DC, and convened senior military leaders, policymakers, and analysts.

Five panels examined Ukraine’s capabilities across land, maritime, air, special operations/cyber, and emerging drone warfare. Finally, three focus sessions addressed why Ukraine’s security remains vital to regional and global stability.

�� Watch the opening session of the conference: https://buff.ly/OfgHtq0
▶️ Full conference playlist: https://buff.ly/MMkG9rM
�� Program & speaker bios: https://bit.ly/USUASD2026
ℹ️ Read about the Security Dialogue Series: https://buff.ly/HrM4CiJ
⏪ Watch previous dialogues (2020–2025): https://buff.ly/nTJKckm

We also want to extend a special thanks to all our speakers and panelists who made the conference possible! We couldn't do this without you — thank you so much.

1️⃣ Panel I: Assessing Ukraine’s Land Force Capabilities and Needs
From left to right: Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt (USA, Ret.); George Barros (Institute for the Study of War); Luke Coffey (Hudson Institute)
*Not pictured: General Wesley Clark (USA, Ret.)

2️⃣ Panel II: Assessing Ukraine’s Maritime & Coastal Defense Capabilities and Needs
From left to right: Debra Cagan (Atlantic Council); Captain Andrij Ryzhenko (Deputy Chief of Staff, Ukrainian Navy / EA Integration 2012–2020); Glen Howard (Saratoga Foundation); Steven Wills (Center for Maritime Strategy/Navy League)

3️⃣ Panel III: Evaluating Ukraine’s Air & Air Defense Capabilities and Needs
From left to right: Ambassador William Courtney (RAND Corporation); Kateryna Stepanenko (Institute for the Study of War); Anna Harvey (American Foreign Policy Council)
*Not pictured: Phillip Breedlove (SACEUR 2013–2016)

4️⃣ Panel IV: Evaluating Ukraine’s Special Operations & Cyber-Warfare/Informational Warfare Capabilities & Needs [With a Glance at the Energy Infrastructure Wars]
From left to right: James Robbins (American Foreign Policy Council); Ariel Cohen (International Tax and Investment Center); Mark Thomas (Lasalle University); Kateryna Sedova (Atlantic Council/Georgetown U)
*Not pictured: Special Commentator Roman Popadiuk (US Envoy to UA 1992-1993)

5️⃣ Panel V: In Lieu of a Drone Summit — A Question: Are Ukraine’s Drone Technology Innovations Leading to a Shift in the Fundamentals of Warfare (Land, Sea, or Air)?
From left to right: Kateryna Shynkaruk (Bush School of Government/Texas A&M); Stephen Blank (Foreign Policy Research Institute)
*Not pictured: Andrij Zagorodnyuk (Minister of Defense of Ukraine 2019–2020); Zenovy Wowczuk (Civil-Military Innovation Institute); Reuben Johnson (National Security Journal); Special Commentator Greg Melcher (CEO/Center for New Generation Warfare)

FULL CONFERENCE PLAYLIST
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