The European Union (EU) is accelerating discussions on building a "UAV shield" along its eastern border following accusations of Russian drones entering the airspace of Poland, Romania, and Estonia. The bloc will hold a high-level online conference on this project on 26/9, chaired by EU Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius.

However, two eastern EU members near the conflict zone, Hungary and Slovakia, were excluded from the initial plan, European Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier confirmed on 22/9. Seven EU member states, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Finland, Poland, Romania, and Bulgaria, will participate in the meeting, and the bloc also invited Ukraine.

Regnier stated the meeting's goal is to assess the capabilities and needs of the participating countries to determine the next steps, "ensuring close coordination with Ukraine and other members" in the project. He also left open the possibility of expanding the project's scope in the future.

Hungary and Slovakia have been repeatedly criticized by other EU members for not taking a firm stance against Russia. Both countries have also openly opposed the bloc's sanctions against Moscow.

The wreckage of a Russian UAV displayed by Ukraine at an international conference in Kyiv on 27/6. Photo: *AP*

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys argued that Ukraine should be fully invited to participate in the project due to its experience and capabilities in countering UAVs after more than three years of conflict with Russia. He emphasized that Europe has significant defense gaps, lacking effective systems for detecting, tracking, and destroying UAVs.

"Ukraine is dealing with UAVs nightly and has built an integrated system. We need to cooperate with Ukraine to maximize effectiveness in building a UAV defense line," Budrys said.

The Lithuanian Foreign Minister called on the EU to send a clearer signal to Russia that any escalation would lead to a stronger response from the bloc.

Previously, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski also warned at a UN Security Council meeting that Russia "cannot complain if their planes or missiles are shot down" when entering NATO airspace. Russia denies allegations that its UAVs violated the airspace of EU member states.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, in her State of the Union address earlier in September, pledged support for the "UAV shield" initiative from countries near the Russian border.

The location of four eastern EU member states, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia, bordering Russia and Belarus. Graphics: *BBC*

She stressed the need for the EU to respond to the call from the Baltic states and strengthen defense capabilities on its eastern flank. She is expected to announce the financial plan for this project at an informal meeting of EU leaders in Denmark on 1/10.

The EU previously rejected a proposal to allocate a budget of 14 million USD for the UAV defense initiative by Lithuania and Estonia. However, the security context following the UAV incursions into the airspace of three EU countries has led to an urgent review of this plan. The member states of the initiative would be responsible for implementation, while the European Commission would coordinate and provide technical support.

Thanh Danh (*Kyiv Independent, Politico, Reuters*)