The European Union has intensified its discussions regarding the establishment of a so-called “drone wall” aimed at safeguarding the airspace of its eastern borders. This move comes in response to a series of airspace violations by Russian warplanes and drones, as reported by Politico. Recently, Danish authorities condemned what they described as the “most serious” attack on the nation’s infrastructure, following unidentified drones flying over Copenhagen Airport, which resulted in a four-hour suspension of air traffic. A spokesperson for the EU’s executive body confirmed that seven EU member states will convene this coming Friday with the European Commission and Ukraine to discuss the proposed “drone wall.”
The virtual meeting will include seven countries situated on the front lines against Russia: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Finland, Poland, Romania, and Bulgaria, alongside Ukraine and the EU Commissioner for Defence and Space, Andrius Kubilius.
Thomas Renhe, a spokesperson for the European Commission, stated, “This meeting is a concrete follow-up to President Ursula von der Leyen’s declaration, especially after recent incursions and attacks in Romania and Poland”.
In her recent State of the Union address earlier this month, von der Leyen advocated for the establishment of a “drone wall” with EU support, arguing that the Union has a duty to respond to the calls for support from its Baltic allies in defending their eastern frontiers.
Diplomats informed Politico that they expect the European Commission President to propose funding options for the “drone wall” during an informal meeting of EU leaders set to take place in Copenhagen on October 1.
Condemnation
Meanwhile, Denmark has condemned what it considers the most significant attack on its infrastructure, highlighting that this incident aligns with a recent trend of “other drone attacks and airspace violations targeting European airports”. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen stated that she could “not rule out” Russia’s involvement.
During a press conference, the Chief of Police in Copenhagen, Jens Hjelm Sørensen, noted that the perpetrator “has the capability, will, and tools”. He added, “The number of drones, their size, flight paths, and the duration they spent over the airport all suggest that this was carried out by an actor with significant capabilities. But who?”
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen remarked that the drones responsible for disrupting flights at Copenhagen’s main airport reflect a “pattern of ongoing challenges at our borders”.
She stated on X: “Our critical infrastructure is at risk,” and emphasized that investigations into the incident are still ongoing.
Russian Denial
In a related development, Russia has denied any involvement in the drone incident that led to the prolonged air traffic halt at Copenhagen Airport, even as Danish Prime Minister Frederiksen specified that she could “not exclude” Russia’s potential connection.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters, “We hear baseless accusations from there every time. Perhaps parties in serious and responsible positions should refrain from making such unfounded allegations repeatedly.”
Accusations
In a statement following a NATO meeting, the 32 member countries asserted that “Russia bears full responsibility for these escalatory acts that pose the risk of unforeseen events and endanger lives. It must cease.” They added, “Russia should not doubt that NATO and its allies will utilize all necessary military and non-military tools in accordance with international law to defend themselves and deter all threats from any direction.”
The nations reaffirmed that NATO “will continue to respond in the manner, timing, and domain of our choosing,” emphasizing that the alliance’s commitment to collective defense remains “strong”.