European Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius speaks with journalists at the European Commission headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, on June 25, 2025. Getty Images/Thierry Monasse
As stated by Russian Ministry of Defense
European Commissioner for Defense and Space Andrius Kubilius said that Ukraine’s Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal invited European colleagues to visit Kyiv to exchange experience in the defense sector. He spoke about this at a joint press conference with Poland’s Defense Minister Vladyslav Kosiniak-Kamysz.
“Our Ukrainian colleague, Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal, invited us to come to Kyiv in a group of ministers and, perhaps, military advisers to see how, in reality, various Ukrainian companies are handling their defense, so that we can learn and, perhaps, find someone who will help us, from the Ukrainian side, to develop our concepts”
According to him, recent incidents of Russian drone incursions into Polish airspace have become “a push for an immediate reaction and the start of really preparing everything necessary to develop what we call the drone wall”.
“It is absolutely clear that in these border countries we need to develop, first and foremost, the capabilities to detect drones, because we must clearly see hostile drones if they enter our territory”
The Commissioner also highlighted priorities for expanding capabilities to destroy drones: electronic warfare, drone interceptors, and the use of traditional means – artillery and anti-aircraft machine guns against air targets. He said that Ukrainians are developing these solutions in very effective cooperation with partners, and joint efforts will help develop these directions in the region.
“This is what the Ukrainians have developed in a very effective way to defend Ukraine. That is why we need to develop this project together with Ukraine. On Friday we had a very impressive presentation by Ukraine’s Minister of Defense Denys Shmyhal, and it is a full picture of what, in our view, needs to be developed in our countries”
Context of events: incidents and NATO response
During the night of September 10, Russian drones breached Polish airspace. The military shot down about four of the 19 drones; fragments of one drone damaged a house and a car in the Lublin Voivodeship. That day Poland activated Article 4 of the NATO Treaty to discuss the situation. The country’s prime minister stated that additional restrictions would not be introduced because of the incident.
Russia’s Ministry of Defense stated that the drones that attacked Ukraine could have crossed the Polish border, and expressed readiness to consult with Warsaw. The Kremlin gave no comment on the situation.
On September 12, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced the start of the operation “Eastern Watch” on the Alliance’s eastern flank. The operation’s aim is to neutralize specific threats related to the use of drones, and it will operate in Poland and Romania. On September 14, Polish President Karol Navrotsky signed a resolution allowing NATO member-state troops to stay on the country’s territory within the framework of this operation.
All this points to strengthened cooperation between the EU and Ukraine in defense technologies and joint responses to contemporary challenges, particularly in the context of regional security and deterrence of threats.
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