Summary of the 3rd Day of discussions at the ‘Ukraine: Future’s Frontline’ project, held in Davos on the occasion of WEF 2026

On the occasion of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2026 in Davos, the Victor Pinchuk Foundation hosted a series of high-level panel discussions as part of the ‘Ukraine: Future’s Frontline’ project.

The events brought together leading global and Ukrainian figures to discuss how our future security, prosperity and global position are being shaped in Ukraine. Speakers and participants discussed topics included: ‘Protecting Europe with Ukrainian Innovation’, ‘War on Children: Russia’s Strategy to Kill Ukraine’s Future’ and ‘The Role of the United States in the World’.  A conversation with Valdis Dombrovskis, Commissioner for Economy and Productivity; Implementation and Simplification, European Commission, was held.  

In the first panel ‘Protecting Europe with Ukrainian Innovation’, Charlie Gasparino, Journalist, Fox Business News asked speakers what lessons they saw for Europe, thoughts on the speed and cost effectiveness of Ukrainian military innovation as well as Ukraine’s contribution to Western security.  

Sir Niall Ferguson, Senior Fellow, Hoover Institution started the panel by stating: “Right now, there is not a lot to deter Putin planning ahead for a victory in Ukraine, and then an attack on another State, maybe the Baltic States. What is concerning to me is EU failure to build its deterrent capability. The longer war goes on; the less likely victory is for Ukraine. Russia has far greater resources, manpower and GDP than Ukraine, especially with China backing Russia economically.”

“Drones are dominant but they are not the only part of this war. It is still in part an infantry war, it is also a naval war (that Ukraine won). This war requires an entirely new state of technology, and it is evolving rapidly. In many wars road warfare is moving as rapidly as AI in terms of innovation. If you look at the Europeans, they have supported Ukraine by giving lots of armament. Denmark as much as it is in the news, has basically no new weapons. It has given nearly all of its weapons to Ukraine.  That is noble, but dumb if you are not replacing it.”

Oleksandr Kamyshin, Advisor for Strategic Issues, JSC "Ukrainian Defense Industry added: “This war will be over when Russians get out of Ukraine, whether this is done by drones or diplomacy. We're in an equilibrium with Russia in terms of quantity and quality. They have proved they're good at scaling up innovation. The war originally had been based on bravery and resilience;  now it is on mathematics, numbers, game efficiency. We have to prove we're better at that as well.”

Andrius Kubilius, Commissioner for Defence and Space, European Commission stated: “We are investing a lot, and we are doing a lot. Maybe not as fast as we like, but we need to learn more. We support Ukraine with weapons, as well as trying to finance the Ukrainian defense industry. We support Ukraine through different finance instruments. We have to invest in Ukraine.” 

Moritz Schularick, President, Kiel Institute for the World Economy agreed: “Things have obviously changed in Germany on a fiscal level. We now have the financial resources. I think you can say Germany is the only country in Europe that has the sort of the financial firepower to make a difference in European defence in the short run, but we're not using it yet.” 

Balázs Nagy, CEO and Co-Founder, TYTAN: “We must learn from Ukraine. The situation is very complex, and nuclear is an important factor, but so is the military. We must be investing in capabilities. It is more complex in Ukraine than before. We need to go there and learn from them.”

Nelia Sheliakina, Chief of Staff, Lasar Special Operations Detachment, National Guard of Ukraine concluded: “Innovation is not just an option. It is the only way we will survive, and it is our only chance to win. In terms of the results of our unit over the three years, we have more than 27,000 enemy targets destroyed and damaged.”

In the next panel of the day, moderator Katrin Eigendorf, Journalist, ZDF spoke a conversation with Valdis Dombrovskis, Commissioner for Economy and Productivity; Implementation and Simplification, European Commission. 

In the next panel of the day, moderator Katrin Eigendorf, Journalist, ZDF spoke a conversation with Valdis Dombrovskis, Commissioner for Economy and Productivity; Implementation and Simplification, European Commission, and started the panel by saying: “We are in a special situation - Ukraine is nearly four years into the full-scale Russian invasion. Not only is Russia reinforcing its attack on civilian people but also we now have Trump. How do we put pressure on Russia to make peace? The EU is by far the biggest donor and supporter to Ukraine at the moment. Is it sufficient for the country to survive this war?”

Valdis Dombrovskis answered: “The situation today is very complicated. Ukraine is in the middle of a harsh winter, suffering ferocious bombing, which is destroying energy infrastructure, so the people have no heating, hot water or electricity. We have to provide urgent support for basic energy infrastructure, and more military support in terms of air defences. Russia has stepped up attacks, because it feels emboldened to do so. Air defence needs to be better supported.”

“We need to step up now to provide immediate support, military support including reinforcing air defences and energy generating capacities, whatever is needed to have some minimum functionalities. This is something which needs to be done immediately, and that's more like ‘in kind’ support”, Valdis Dombrovskis added. 

In the panel titled ‘War on Children: Russia’s Strategy to Kill Ukraine’s Future,’ speakers discussed the tragedy of the estimated 35,000 Ukrainian children who have been abducted by Russia, to be re-educated and potentially turned into soldiers to attack their own country. 

Kersti Kaljulaid, President of Estonia (2016-2021), moderated the panel and stated: “Russia has always used this tactic of forced abductions. As an Estonian I have personal experience.”

Kateryna Rashevska, Legal expert, Regional Center for Human Right said: “Previously, Putin was trying to attract migrants, and compatriots from abroad (to boost the Russian population). These policies failed - mostly the migrants are not Russian speakers, and do not conform to the Russian view, this is why the forcible abduction system was created.”

 “Ukraine has built a whole system of logistics for repatriated children. Every child is interviewed by a specialist, to understand the needs of the children and the family. Social support is provided to the whole family. We have also established a system of legal support, to provide documents, but also interviewing the children to submit evidence to the International Criminal Court,” added Rashevska

Sofie Stoffel, Research Fellow, Global Public Policy Institute: “It is very difficult to track the children. It depends on each child’s situation. Close knit families make it easier. It is different when it is about children taken from institutions, or from single parent families where the parent has died. We need the expertise of official security and intelligence institutions. We have the high-level backing from the ICC, but there are many crimes against Ukrainian children that do not quite meet the threshold. That gap needs to be closed. European support could make a difference on this matter.”

 “43% of Ukrainian children have experienced trauma. It is a generational task to provide mental health and psychological support now and into the future. We need to make being a psychologist an attractive job. This is an opportunity to reshape the way that society deals with trauma,” said Stoffel. 

Kasja Ollongren, EU Special Representative for Human Rights: “Time is not on our side, children grow up and become older. Some are already grown-ups, and we risk having lost them already because they are being mobilised and militarised. There is a lot of coordination in Europe, EU, the Council of Europe, the OSCE, and the coalition, and there is the #BringKidsBackUA initiative. We need the academics and the experts to help track the children. Using the intelligence and security experts of participating countries is a really good idea.”

Kasja Ollongren: “Giving the children a face is very important - we owe it to the children and the families to show them they are not forgotten. In our communication about this we have to be very concrete. Three-year-old kids are getting patriotic education. It is impossible to resist this as a child. It is very difficult for that child to reintegrate - to return to its roots.”

The project ‘Ukraine: Futures’ Frontline’ takes place on 19-22 January, 2026, on the occasion of #WEF2026 in Davos as part of a broader series of Ukrainian events designed to amplify Ukraine’s voice, highlight its resilience, and foster a dialogue on the future of the country and global security.

‘Ukraine: Future’s Frontline’ is a platform exploring our future security, prosperity and global position. Our future is shaped in Ukraine: Ukrainians defend their sovereignty and Europe’s security. And in this fight, Ukraine must be at the cutting edge of innovation. Of the competition that will determine tomorrow’s world. Ukrainians develop cutting edge drone technology, AI, and redefine standards for military and civilian technologies.

More information about the project “Ukraine: Future’s Frontline” is available at www.ukraineindavos.org

Photos are available here 

Video will be available here 

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