The European Union should take into account Ukraine's military needs in the future strategy of the European defense industry. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said this in a statement to Reuters.


"Our strategy can only be complete if it also takes into account the needs of Ukraine and its industrial potential," von der Leyen said in her speech at the annual conference of the European Defense Agency.


Von der Leyen said that Ukraine should be integrated into EU defense programs to help meet its needs in the war against Russian invasion.


"The first step to achieve this goal is to involve Ukraine in the industrial strategy consultation process. This should lead to the integration of Ukraine into some of our defense programs, if necessary with the consent of the European Parliament and the European Council," she said.