Copenhagen informal EU summit weighs drone wall and Ukraine support

Nearly 50 European leaders met in Copenhagen on Wednesday and Thursday for an informal summit convened by Denmark to address a wave of recent aerial incursions, sharpen plans for collective defence, and discuss long‑term support for Ukraine. The talks, held under tight security after unidentified drones forced airport closures and were seen near military sites in Denmark, focused on proposals including a blocwide "drone wall," an eastern flank watch, and ways to use frozen Russian assets to fund Kyiv.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen framed the incidents as part of a wider hybrid campaign, saying ahead of the meeting, "I hope that everybody recognises now that there is a hybrid war." Danish authorities have not publicly attributed the drone flights to a specific actor, and Russia has denied responsibility. Delegations noted recent airspace violations elsewhere in Europe, including incursions by unmanned aircraft in Poland and Russian fighter jets over Estonia, which have increased anxiety about the vulnerability of NATO and EU airspace.

Leaders used the informal setting to begin fleshing out flagship defence projects. The drone wall concept is intended as a network of...