The European Commission intends to initiate negotiations with Ukraine regarding the country's participation in the secure satellite communication services within the framework of the EU's space programme. According to the Commission, this is the next step in deepening cooperation on critical infrastructure.
The proposal concerns Ukraine's future involvement in Govsatcom, a part of the EU's space programme aimed at providing secure and resilient satellite communication through the shared use of resources from member states and private actors.
The cooperation builds on a previous agreement from April 2025, when Ukraine was linked to other parts of the space programme, including the satellite monitoring system Copernicus and systems for monitoring space weather and near-Earth objects.
– Ukraine's participation will strengthen Europe's secure space capacity at a critical time. This is a decisive step towards a stronger and more united Europe that can protect its citizens both on the ground and in space, says Andrius Kubilius, EU Commissioner for Defence and Space Affairs.
Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice President responsible for technological sovereignty, also emphasises the strategic value of the initiative:
– Secure connectivity is crucial for Europe's resilience. By deepening our cooperation with Ukraine, we strengthen our collective security and our ability to act in a rapidly changing world.
Govsatcom is part of the EU's efforts towards strategic autonomy in space and communication, which also includes the new satellite network IRIS². According to the Commission, the network is planned to be operational by 2030 and is intended to deliver secure communication across Europe.