Denmark’s prime minister, Mette Frederiksen, has declared that Europe is in its “most difficult and dangerous situation” since the end of the second world war, as EU leaders gather in Copenhagen to discuss defence readiness and support for Ukraine. Frederiksen warned that all European countries are affected by what she termed a “Russian hybrid war”, involving drone incursions and acts of sabotage.
Speaking ahead of an EU summit focused on boosting the continent’s battle readiness by 2030, Frederiksen urged unity among member states. “I hope that everybody recognises now that there is a hybrid war, and one day it’s Poland, the other day it’s Denmark, and next week it will probably be somewhere else,” she told reporters. The warning comes after a spate of unidentified drone sightings over Danish airports, prompting authorities to close civilian airspace.
French President Emmanuel Macron struck a more cautious tone, stressing the need for strength to deter aggression while avoiding escalation. He expressed solidarity with Denmark over the drone incidents but did not confirm a reported link between a Russian shadow fleet oil tanker and the drones. Meanwhile, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen pointed to a pattern of Russian provocations, including drones in Poland and violations of Estonian airspace, saying “Russia tries to test us”.
At the summit, the European Commission presented plans for a “drone wall” to detect and shoot down hostile aircraft, and a broader “eastern flank watch” system to defend the EU’s eastern borders. Member states are urged to agree on these projects by late October, alongside joint missile defences and a space shield. However, leaders remain divided over a €140bn loan for Ukraine backed by frozen Russian assets, with France, Belgium and Luxembourg expressing legal and financial concerns.
Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever warned against leaving his country exposed to risks from the frozen assets held at Euroclear, the Brussels-based financial institution. “Taking Putin’s money and leaving the risks with us: that is not going to happen,” he said. Despite this, Finland, Sweden and Ireland have voiced support for the plan, which would provide Ukraine with an interest-free EU loan to be repaid from future Russian reparations.
