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The European Union is talking about shoring up defenses in its eastern airspace. Recent Russian drone incursions have lent urgency to the project.
Oct. 1, 2025, 12:01 a.m. ET
The European Union is working on a plan to establish what it calls a “drone wall” — a defense system along the bloc’s eastern flank meant to repel unmanned aircraft from Russia.
Details are scant, because the effort is in its early stages. Given the rash of recent Russian drone incursions into European airspace, officials have an incentive to move quickly.
The idea is expected to be discussed on Wednesday in Copenhagen as leaders from across the 27-nation bloc gather to talk about trade and defense.
Here’s what we know about the plan:
How did the idea come about?
Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Union’s executive arm, floated the idea of an “eastern flank watch,” including the drone wall, in her annual state of the union speech last month. The proposal had an immediate sense of urgency. Russian drones had entered Polish airspace that same day. Later in September, Romania reported a Russian drone incursion, and Russian fighter jets entered the skies over Estonia.
A kickoff planning call took place last week, joined by representatives of nations near Russia — Bulgaria, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Poland, Slovakia and Finland — as well as Denmark, which currently holds an E.U. leadership role.
“We need to act now — Europe must deliver a strong and united response to Russia’s drone incursions at our borders,” Ms. von der Leyen said on Tuesday. “That is why we will propose immediate actions to create the drone wall.”
