Europe looks to Ukraine for advice on drone defence

European leaders seek to exploit the experience and expertise of Ukraine in the treatment of drone incursions at a summit of the European political community (EPC) in Copenhagen.

“The only expert at the moment in the world with regard to anti-drone capacities is, unfortunately, Ukraine because they fight Russian drones almost every day,” said Danish Prime Minister Frederiksen, the host of Reunion.

“We have to take all the experiences, all new technologies, all Ukraine’s innovations, and put it in our own rearmatiating,” she said.

After observations of recent drones in Denmark, several European countries, including the German armed forces, participate in the security of the summit.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said he was ready to offer advice, especially in Denmark, when he arrived at the EPC rally which brings together nearly 50 European leaders for discussions focused on the strengthening of Ukraine, the security situation in Europe and how to make the continent safer.

His country could have the most important and most relevant experience in managing drone interference worldwide, said Zelensky, echoing Frederiksen’s remarks. “Of course, we will not stay away,” he said.

NATO secretary general, Mark Rutte, said: “Ukraine is a power with regard to innovation, ideas, for example, with regard to anti-mebrium technology, anti-cyber threats, etc.”

“The fact that Ukraine now helps Denmark, Poland, in the whole of NATO, to share its ideas won over more than three and a half years, of this terrible complete, not provoked Russian assault, is very important,” said Rutte.

“There are very disastrous lessons to learn from Ukraine, and we learn from Ukraine,” said Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.

His country recently experienced drone observations that have disrupted Arttffic but also provided drone detection systems in Denmark.

“We have to improve our detection capacity. We have to improve our cooperation between the police and the defense, and we work there,” said Støre.

Managers warn against bad expectations in terms of “drone wall”

The EPC summit follows a meeting of the 27 leaders of the European Union also on Wednesday also in Copenhagen where better protection of European airspace was discussed, including the idea of ​​building a so-called “drone wall”.

While many leaders have expressed their support for the initiative, some have warned of too high expectations.

Lithuanian president Gitanas Nausėda, whose country borders Russia-Biélorussia, warned against the high costs of a “system that could protect each thumb” and pleaded for a more targeted approach.

Donald Tusk, the Prime Minister of Poland, also a country close to the Belarus, said that he could understand the concerns about the effectiveness of such a wall.

Tusk added that he wanted discussions to improve drone defense capacities in Europe will already be more advanced and that decisions on funding already taken.

Frederiksen said on Wednesday that a complete protection against interference was not realistic.

“I don’t think we will never reach a conclusion where no drone flies in Europe or no sabotage will be seen.”

The EPC was pushed by French President Emmanuel Macron following the large-scale invasion of Ukraine in Russia in 2022 to promote dialogue and cooperation between European countries beyond EU borders and without the pump of state visits.

Discussions on European security should also address economic security, drug trafficking and migration.

The 47 guests include all EU heads of state or government as well as country leaders outside the block such as the United Kingdom, Moldova, Ukraine, Switzerland and Georgia. Russia and Belarus are not invited to the rallies.

The leaders of the EPC met for the first time in October 2022 in Prague and gathered for the last time in Tirana in May 2025.