Recent drone incidents across Europe are a clear sign that Russia still feels bold enough to escalate the war. This was stated by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy during the 7th European Political Community Summit in Copenhagen.
The Head of State emphasized that the challenges facing countries today require joint solutions and strong action, including the creation of an effective air defense system against enemy drones.
“Our guys are already here in Denmark. And there are experienced Ukrainians who know how to detect and shoot down attack drones. And they’ve already begun deploying their mission. And we are ready to share this experience with you, partners. And this is just the beginning – the first step on the path toward an effective Drone Wall to protect all of Europe,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted.
The President stressed that a fast and effective response is needed for violations of European airspace by the Russian Federation, as well as defense forces that know how to counter drones. The Head of State also called for more countries to join the PURL initiative, which not only supports our defense but also strengthens ties between Europe and the United States.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized the need to remember: the root of all these problems is Russia’s war, which still has the resources to continue its aggression. The President called for the urgent adoption of the EU’s 19th sanctions package against Russia.
“We also need to seriously think how to truly down Russia’s entire oil trade infrastructure – because that’s what fuels their war machine. Right now, we’re seeing that even tankers already under sanctions are still being used by Russia. That has to stop,” the President noted.
The Head of State further underlined the need to also impose sanctions against captains and crews of shadow fleet vessels, the owners of relevant companies, and to consider sanctions on Russian oil terminals and remaining fuel infrastructure on Russian territory.
“We should also support President Trump’s call to stop buying Russian oil here in Europe. It’s short-sighted to go against the USA – and guys from Hungary need to hear this clearly. Energy from the U.S. and other partners can fill the gap on the European market,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed.
A separate focus was on security guarantees for Ukraine. The President called for finally completing the work on them: to put everything on paper, and fully prepare every detail.
Lastly, Volodymyr Zelenskyy congratulated the President of Moldova, Maia Sandu, on her victory in the parliamentary elections. The Head of State concluded that supporting Moldova, Ukraine, and the Western Balkans on their path to EU membership is critical, and real progress is needed.
“Ukraine has completed the screening process. We are ready to open Cluster 1 – and this must be done. Just as agreed. This will definitely strengthen the overall situation,” the President summed up.