European Leaders Float Plan For Drone Wall Days After Airspace Violation By Russia

Last Updated:October 01, 2025, 23:12 IST

The drone wall initiative is not a physical wall but a layered network of detection and interception systems building on individual EU members’ anti-drone capabilities.

This comes after several European countries reported violations of their airspace by Russia. However, Kremlin denied their involvement.. (Reuters File Image)

After weeks of repeated incursions into European airspace, the leaders met in Copenhagen, Denmark, on Wednesday to discuss measures to protect the continent’s skies, including a flagship “drone wall” initiative.

CNN quoted a source as saying that the commission, alongside the European Union, is working to build a “Defence Readiness Roadmap”. The roadmap includes four defense projects, including the drone wall.

The drone wall initiative is not a physical wall but a layered network of detection and interception systems building on individual EU members’ anti-drone capabilities.

“Europe must deliver a strong and united response to Russia’s drone incursions at our borders,” Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission said.

“And that is why we will propose immediate actions to create the drone wall as part of the Eastern Flank Watch. We must move together forward with Ukraine and with NATO,” she said.

This comes after several European countries reported violations of their airspace by Russia. However, Kremlin denied their involvement.

However, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius had said earlier this week that the development of a drone wall could take about three-four years.

Meanwhile, Latvia’s Prime Minister Evika Silina told reporters in Copenhagen on Wednesday: “We don’t need three years, and I believe we can do it in a much shorter time.”

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said Tuesday that a drone wall is an “excellent idea” that is both “timely and necessary”.

“In the end, we cannot spend millions of euros or dollars on missiles to take out the drones, which are only costing a couple of thousand dollars,” he said.

He further said that while the alliance is still assessing who is behind the drone incursions in Denmark, “when it comes to Poland and Estonia, it is clear that it is the Russians,” The Guardian reported.

“Still, we are assessing whether it is intentional or not. But even if it is not intentional, it is reckless and it is unacceptable,” he added.

Echoing similar views, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen told reporters that “from a European perspective there is only one country… willing to threaten us and that is Russia, and therefore we need a very strong answer back”.

According to BBC, Denmark has beefed up security for the summit, banning all civilian drone flights until Friday and placing heavy restrictions on traffic in Copenhagen.

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