EU countries to hold talks on drone wall after Russian aircraft incursion
Photo: The EU wants to protect its eastern borders from Russian aggression (Getty Images)
EU countries will gather to discuss a drone wall after incursions by Russian drones and fighter jets, Politico reports.
The new round of talks is scheduled for Friday, September 26, with participation from seven EU countries, Ukraine, and the European Commission. The negotiations aim to step up efforts to build a drone wall to protect Eastern Europe’s borders from Russia.
Representatives from Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Finland, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, and Ukraine will take part, along with European Commissioner for Defense and Space Andrius Kubilius.
"This is a concrete follow-up to President von der Leyen’s announcement, as recent attacks and incursions have already occurred in Romania and Poland," European Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier said.
Von der Leyen has backed the creation of an EU-supported drone wall, arguing that the bloc must "heed the call of our Baltic friends" to defend its eastern borders. According to Politico, she is expected to present funding options for the project during an informal EU leaders’ summit in Copenhagen on October 1.
The talks come just days after what officials described as an "unprecedentedly brazen" incident in which Russian fighter jets violated Estonian airspace for 12 minutes. Earlier this month, Russian drones also crossed into Polish airspace, sparking alarm among NATO members.
"We will see what their interest is, how we can help them, what their capabilities are, what their needs are. Following this discussion, we will decide on potential next steps hand in hand with these member states and Ukraine," Regnier added.
The developments follow Lithuania’s statement that the Commission had earlier rejected a joint €12 million request from Tallinn and Vilnius to finance the drone wall this summer. But recent Russian provocations have added urgency to the plan.
On the night of September 10, more than 20 Russian drones violated Polish airspace. Two Russian fighter jets also entered the security zone of the Petrobaltic drilling platform in the Baltic Sea.
On September 19, three Russian MiG-31 jets crossed into Estonian airspace over the Gulf of Finland for 12 minutes, after which Tallinn requested NATO consultations under Article 4 of the Alliance treaty.
