MOSCOW: Russia on Saturday strongly criticized the European Union’s proposal to build a “drone wall” along its borders, warning that the move would only escalate tensions across the continent.
The remarks came a day after defense ministers from around 10 EU member states agreed to prioritize a coordinated drone defense system in response to recent airspace violations allegedly linked to Russia.
In a statement carried by state news agency RIA Novosti, the Russian Foreign Ministry said the initiative would trigger “an increase in military and political tensions on our continent,” describing it as the result of “personal ambitions and political games of the EU’s ruling elites.”
The idea of a “drone wall” was first floated by EU chief Ursula von der Leyen earlier this month, just hours after NATO forces intercepted Russian drones that entered Polish airspace. EU officials have argued the bloc must adopt cheaper, more flexible anti-drone technologies inspired by Ukraine’s experience in countering daily Russian drone swarms.
Moscow, however, has denied any responsibility for the incidents. Russian officials accused the EU of “hysteria,” insisting their pilots follow international navigation rules and claiming there is no evidence the drones that breached European skies were Russian.
The dispute underscores mounting friction between Russia and the EU, as both sides trade accusations amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and heightened concerns over regional security.