Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized that the recent incidents involving drones in European countries serve as a test of the European Union’s and the United States’ ability to respond to new security threats.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Zelensky: Europe Must Show Resolve
In a recent interview with the British publication The Guardian, Volodymyr Zelensky noted that European countries often fear escalating conflict, believing that any strong response could lead to a worsening of the situation. He believes that such a strategy is perceived by the Kremlin as a sign of weakness.
“Europe is so afraid of the word escalation… And since they are developed states, they think that any response they make is an escalation. I believe the opposite – Russia does not like weakness; it considers any intellectual responses – such as the sanctions responses that Europe finds – not about law, but about weakness for the Russian Federation… What is this overall? All these (drone attacks) are tests, tests of Europe, their reaction. A test of how America will respond to the current threat to European countries that are in NATO,” he stated in the interview with The Guardian.
The President also emphasized that these drone attacks are part of the Russian Federation’s strategy aimed at testing European response systems and the resolve of Ukraine’s allies.
Threat to Europe: Drones, Airports, and Hybrid Warfare
Zelensky believes that Vladimir Putin, facing a difficult situation on the front lines, is forced to seek new ways to exert pressure on Europe. In his opinion, Russian society has been informationally conditioned to support aggression, and unmet promises compel the Kremlin to demonstrate at least some “achievements.”
In September, following a series of incidents involving airspace violations by drones, particularly over Poland, Zelensky stated that drone attacks on EU countries are an attempt by Moscow to test Europe’s self-defense capabilities. At the same time, he noted that these actions aim to influence public opinion and reduce support for Ukraine, especially ahead of the winter period.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov denied Russia’s involvement in drone or missile attacks on EU or NATO countries. According to him, drones from Russian territory allegedly could not reach Poland by flying through Belarus or Ukraine.
In several European Union countries, including Belgium, Norway, Denmark, and France, airports were forced to temporarily suspend operations due to the presence of unidentified drones in the airspace. In recent weeks, a number of such incidents have been recorded, raising additional concerns about flight safety and potential provocations.
Russia officially denies accusations of conducting a so-called “hybrid war” against European countries; however, experts believe that such incidents may be part of a broader tactic to pressure the West.