Europeans agree to develop 'drone wall' amid violations of airspace

The shield along borders with Russia and Ukraine would be a detection system.

- BY LORNE COOK

POLISH Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz speaks in Warsaw.

(CZAREK SOKOLOWSKI Associated Press)

European defense ministers agreed on Friday to develop a "drone wall" along their borders with Russia and Ukraine to better detect, track and intercept drones violating Europe's airspace.

The decision comes after a spate of incidents in which Europe's borders and airports have been tested by rogue drones. Russia has been blamed for some of them but denies that anything was done on purpose or that it played a role.

"Russia is testing the EU and NATO, and our response must be firm, united and immediate," EU Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius said after chairing a virtual meeting of 10 countries on Europe's eastern flank. Ukrainian and NATO officials also took part in the talks.

Kubilius said the drone shield could take a year to build, and that envoys from the countries would meet soon to develop "a detailed conceptual and technical road map" on the way ahead. The top priority is an "effective detection system," he said.