EU unveils plan to be ready in 5 years to fend off Russian attack

The European Union on Thursday laid out a plan aimed at ensuring that Europe can defend itself against outside attack by the end of the decade as concern mounts that Russia is already probing the bloc’s defenses.

- By LornE Cook

JULIA DEMAREE NIKHINSON Associated Press

EUROPEAN UNION foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas holds a news conference Monday in Kyiv, Ukraine.

A top priority would be to erect drone defenses to detect, track and disable rogue drones, in light of a series of troubling airspace violations across Europe over the last month — some close to Europe's borders with Russia, Belarus and Ukraine.

The European Drone Defense Initiative would be a key part of a broader scheme dubbed Eastern Flank Watch to strengthen defenses along Europe’s eastern border on land, in the Baltic and Black seas, and in the air, as well as against hybrid attacks.

The aim is to have them both initially operational by December next year, with the drone system fully functional in late 2027, and Eastern Flank Watch in full swing by the end of 2028. Separate air and space shields over Europe would also be developed.