Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy stated that Russia might exploit cross-border drone incidents to create divisions within Europe. Speaking at the Northern and Baltic countries summit in Tallinn, Zelenskiy argued that Moscow aims to turn European public opinion against supporting Ukraine.
In responses to a Finnish broadcaster, Zelenskiy noted that Russian electronic warfare systems can alter drone flight paths. According to him, the main risk is not only technical; when drones appear near allied countries or in their airspace, Russia uses these incidents to blame Ukraine and sow distrust among its supporters.
Zelenskiy: The Goal Is to Divide Europe
Zelenskiy said Russia tries to pressure Finland and the Baltic states by redirecting drones elsewhere. He explained that this tactic aims to portray Kyiv as the aggressor, thereby weakening support for Ukraine in Europe.
The Ukrainian leader also described his country as being under daily air attacks. He stated that Russia launches hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles at Ukraine every day, and Ukraine needs increased capacity to counter these threats.
Zelenskiy emphasized that Europe should not limit itself to arms purchases but must also rapidly share battlefield experience. Within this framework, he proposed expanding bilateral "drone agreements" with partner countries.
Support from Finland and Denmark
Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said the drone threat in the region stems primarily from Russia's attacks on Ukraine. Orpo affirmed Ukraine's right to self-defense and noted that Finland has also strengthened its alarm and preparedness systems.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen announced a new agreement with Ukraine at the summit. She said this deal will help Denmark enhance its drone detection and neutralization capabilities.
Frederiksen argued that expensive, traditional military methods are not always the most effective solution against the low-cost drone threat. She added that Denmark aims to stay in constant cooperation with Ukrainian forces to access the most up-to-date solutions on the ground.
Joint Defense and Sanctions Pressure on the Agenda
Zelenskiy stressed the need for Europe to strengthen its joint defense capacity against Russia's drone and missile attacks. He said sharing battlefield experience, developing early detection systems, and neutralization methods together are central to this fight.
The Ukrainian leader also called for increased pressure on Russia, particularly through tougher sanctions and more decisive actions against the shadow fleet that supports Russia's war economy.
The key message from the summit was that drone incidents must not weaken support for Ukraine. Northern and Baltic capitals agreed that the response lies in closer defense cooperation with Kyiv.
