EU Leaders Convene in Copenhagen to Chart Defense Path for 2030
Wednesday and Thursday saw EU heads of state and government meet in Copenhagen for an informal summit focused on Europe’s security architecture ahead of 2030. In the wake of the talks, Denmark’s prime minister Mette Frederiksen joined EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel at a post-meeting press conference to outline a shared path for armament and resilience. A draft concept from the European Commission proposes a framework for intensified European defense—from air and space shields to broader defensive capabilities—leading up to 2030.
The draft highlights flagship initiatives including a “drone wall” to detect, intercept, and, if necessary, neutralize unmanned aircraft; intensified monitoring along the eastern flank; an air defense shield; and a space defense shield. Officials stress that the plan is designed to be complementary to Ukraine’s defense needs and to NATO cooperation, drawing on Kyiv’s experience with drone and airspace threats.
What the plan envisions
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the drone wall is an anti-drone system that will rapidly detect and counter drones, with rapid cooperation between the EU, NATO, and Ukraine. “We will draw heavily on Ukraine’s knowledge in this area,” she noted, stressing the urgency of acting quickly while maintaining close alliance work.
Frederiksen stressed the importance of deterrence: “We are facing threats. The Russians are testing us. What is next is clear: we must increase our military contributions and defense spending to support Ukraine and strengthen Europe so that war becomes impossible.” She added that Europe must be built to be resilient for years to come, not just in the coming weeks.
Von der Leyen underscored that military support for Ukraine must rise, and that sanctions on Russia should continue and tighten. “The time has come to increase pressure with new and stronger sanctions, while sustaining and expanding our military assistance to Ukraine,” she said from the podium as the session wrapped up.
Ukraine, accession talks, and regional unity
Across the conference, attention turned to Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged EU leaders to open the first negotiating cluster for EU membership—“Cluster 1: Founding Principles”—arguing that Kyiv has completed much of the internal alignment required and that real progress is overdue. He posted a message ahead of a meeting of the European Political Community, insisting that Ukraine is ready for substantive discussions on opening accession talks.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s presence signaled that debates about Ukraine’s future within the EU would remain nuanced. While unanimity remains a feature of EU enlargement talks, officials emphasized that broad support exists for Ukraine’s right to pursue membership once criteria are met, with a growing sense of urgency in light of Russia’s aggression.
Next steps
With the informal summit behind them, EU officials say the European Commission has been given the green light to advance the drone wall concept and the upscaling plan for European defense, coordinating closely with NATO and Ukraine. The goal is to enhance Europe’s autonomous security capacity by 2030, while keeping Ukraine’s security needs central to the bloc’s strategy. In parallel, leaders reaffirmed their commitment to Ukraine, agreeing to sustain and expand sanctions on Russia until a lasting peace is achieved.
