EU defence commissioner urges integration of Ukraine’s battle-tested capabilities to counter Russian drone threats amid growing security concerns.
BRUSSELS: Europe remains unprepared to effectively counter Russian drone attacks and must integrate Ukraine’s battle-tested capabilities for better protection, EU defence commissioner Andrius Kubilius warned on Monday.
The 27-nation bloc is urgently working to strengthen its drone defences after NATO jets intercepted Russian drones over Poland in September.
“Why did it take us more than two years and the trigger of the Russian provocation with drones against Poland, and also against Baltic States and Romania, to understand that we are not ready to detect Russian drones and to destroy them with cost-effective means?” Kubilius said during a speech in Vilnius.
“The Russians are learning. Are we?”
NATO has deployed additional forces to its eastern flank and is installing more anti-drone systems following the Poland incident.
The EU has announced plans to develop a comprehensive anti-drone defence system, though specific details remain unclear and implementation could take years.
Kubilius emphasised that European nations must incorporate Ukraine and its battle-hardened military of approximately 800,000 personnel into their broader defence strategy.
“If we do not do that, we shall make a historical mistake, which shall leave us weaker. And which shall leave Ukraine weaker,” Kubilius stated.
The urgent defence reinforcement comes as European intelligence agencies caution that Russian President Vladimir Putin might consider attacking a NATO country in coming years if the Ukraine conflict concludes. – AFP
