Zelensky warns Europe: Russia ready to extend war

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky warned European leaders that Moscow is preparing to escalate its war beyond Ukraine’s borders. Addressing a summit of nearly 50 European countries in Copenhagen, he pointed to recent drone flights over Denmark and other states as evidence that Russia feels emboldened to push the conflict into Europe. Zelensky urged capitals to take the threat seriously, offering Ukraine’s battlefield experience to help partners strengthen air defenses. Officials at the gathering discussed plans for tighter coordination, including the idea of a regional “drone wall” to deter incursions and protect critical infrastructure. The concern follows a series of high-profile airspace violations in northern and eastern Europe that have sharpened anxieties about spillover from the war. Leaders at the summit framed the response as a test of continental resolve and readiness. The Kremlin dismissed the warnings. President Vladimir Putin said Russia was merely monitoring what he called Europe’s growing militarisation, accusing Western states of stoking “hysteria” to justify higher security spending. French President Emmanuel Macron advocated firmer rules of engagement, saying drones violating national airspace could be destroyed. A similar hard line was voiced by leaders on NATO’s eastern flank, with one prime minister warning the next drone to breach their airspace would be shot down. Alongside security talks, the European Union weighed a proposal to use frozen Russian assets to back a €140 billion loan for Kyiv. Belgium, where most of the assets are held, flagged legal and financial risks, while European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said she would intensify negotiations to share potential liabilities across the bloc.