Ukraine Defense, Recovery, and European Integration
By Yulia Brockdorf
This past week, I joined a dedicated delegation in Brussels to deepen strategic coordination and international solidarity in support of Ukraine’s defense, recovery, and European integration.
Together with Carl Larson (Executive Director, EAU and DTU, president Ukraine Defense Support), Bohdan Pechenyak (President, European Action for Ukraine, UDS), Jonathan Lippert (President, DTU, EAU, Ukraine Aid Ops), and Taras Gudz (DTU, EAU, UDS), we engaged in high-level meetings and dialogues across the EU and NATO landscape.
We were honored to connect with respected leaders across the Ukrainian and European communities, each of whom played a meaningful role in the success of this visit.
Among them:
– Political advisors like Oleksandr Lazuka, a trusted adviser to MEPs and community leader who advanced high-level conversations;
– Experts like Iryna Leroy, professor and information security specialist, who guided logistics and helped facilitate key meetings;
– Elected officials such as Mikhaël Jacquemain, President of the Hainaut Provincial Federation DéFI, who offered invaluable assistance and connections;
– Coordinators and politicians such as Ivanna Tlumatska, whose presence and local insight helped weave together essential moments of the delegation.
We are also deeply thankful to Ihor Chocholak, Daria Malevka and many others…
At the European Parliament, we met with Reinis Pozņaks, Member of the European Parliament (Latvia), whose unwavering support for Ukraine continues to inspire, and Jason Wiseman, Advisor on Security, Defense, Foreign Affairs, and Counter-Terrorism.
At NATO HQ, we had the opportunity to speak with Claudio Palestini, Head of NATO’s Science for Peace and Security program; Sean Bittick, C-UAS and Capability Development Officer; Justas Pakašius, Temporary Officer in the Innovation, Hybrid and Cyber Division.
We also had a great meeting with Vasyl Haivanovych, First Secretary of the Mission of Ukraine to the European Union.
Among the discussions attended was the panel “Toward a Fair and Sustainable Reconstruction of Ukraine”, focused on regulatory frameworks, economic infrastructure, and strong international business partnerships.
It was a joy to reunite with long-time volunteers Shaun and Jenny, whose steadfast service continues to lift spirits across continents.
I also attended the panel “Toward EU Membership: A Greener and Resilient Ukraine”, and had a meaningful exchange with Svitlana Grynchuk, Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine.
I spoke with General Philip Breedlove, USAF (Ret.), to discuss practical objectives and strategies for multinational support of Ukraine, and Neils Flemming Hansen, MEP from Denmark, reinforced the value of multi-systemic collaboration and forward-looking investment in Ukrainian defense innovation.
Later, joined a meeting with Олексій Чернишов, Minister of National Unity of Ukraine, where he held an open and heartfelt dialogue with the Belgian-Ukrainian community.
Other powerful encounters included meeting Sergiy Ivanchuk, a Ukrainian opera singer and survivor of five gunshot wounds; Bogdana Martyniuk, Ukraine Mission to the EU; and Taras Melnyk of BE Brussel Volia, where I had the opportunity to contribute to their volunteer work making camouflage nets.
On behalf of DAWN Inc and Defense Tech for Ukraine, I return home renewed in purpose. Every voice raised, every hand extended, and every policy shaped in Brussels echoes forward into Ukraine’s sovereign, resilient future.