This paper investigates the evolution of European Union defense integration following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, through the analytical lens of “failing forward.” While the EU has introduced a suite of new defense initiatives, these efforts continue to reflect patterns of incremental, reactive integration shaped by institutional constraints and member state divergences. Drawing on recent policy documents and expert analyses, the research demonstrates how the EU’s fragmented defense landscape has prompted partial, often insufficient reforms that nonetheless cumulatively advance integration, better matching the predictions of failing forward than other integration theories. The findings highlight both the limits and persistence of integration under crisis, illustrating how institutional shortcomings drive forward momentum without producing fully optimal outcomes.