Germany, the U.K., France, Poland, Italy, and the EU unveil significant security steps in Berlin, including new counter-drone deployments, stepped-up U.S.-made weapons transfers, and plans for a European-wide drone defense system.
BERLIN | Europe’s five largest military spenders gathered in Berlin on Friday to unveil a sweeping package of new defense initiatives aimed at fortifying NATO’s northeastern flank and accelerating military support for Ukraine as Russia intensifies its hybrid warfare campaign across the continent.
Defense leaders from Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Poland, and the European Union announced new counter-drone deployments, expanded intelligence cooperation, and a substantial increase in U.S.-made weapons deliveries destined for Kyiv.
Germany used the Berlin gathering to confirm a new €150 million ($175 million) commitment in American-produced military systems through a special procurement track designed to provide Ukraine with highly specialized weapons that only the United States manufactures. This latest tranche comes in addition to fresh military support approved by the German Bundestag earlier in the week.
Looking ahead, Germany plans to direct €11.5 billion ($13.4 billion) toward Ukraine in 2026 — €3 billion more than the current year — solidifying Berlin’s role as one of Kyiv’s most prominent European backers.
Counter-Drone Forces Deploy to Finland and Belgium
The Group of Five emphasized that Europe is facing an unprecedented surge in hybrid aggression, including drone incursions, sabotage operations, cyberattacks, and airspace violations.
To counter these threats:
- The U.K. deployed anti-drone combat units to Finland, which shares NATO’s longest border with Russia.
- British advisers were also sent to Belgium last weekend following a spike in unidentified drone overflights.
- Germany confirmed its air force has mobilized “anti-drone troops” to Belgium on just a few hours’ notice.
- Additional counter-drone enablers are being coordinated to reinforce both nations.
Polish State Secretary Paweล Zalewski was blunt about the source of the threat:
“We are faced with multiple threats — and Russia is the originator of these.”
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius drew a connection between Belgium’s drone incidents and discussions to use frozen Russian assets located there to finance Ukrainian reconstruction.
European Drone Defense Architecture Coming in 2025
Pistorius announced that the five leading defense nations are developing a signature-ready proposal for a cost-effective European drone defense initiative, expected to be finalized during their next ministerial meeting in Warsaw early next year.
The plan aims to streamline acquisition, improve early warning networks, standardize counter-UAS technology, and ensure rapid force mobility across the continent.
93% of Russian Strikes Hit Civilian Targets, EU Officials Say
A shared intelligence assessment presented during the meeting revealed that 93% of Russian attacks in Ukraine target civilian areas—a statistic repeated by the Italian and German defense ministers as well as the EU’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas.
Kallas reiterated that a credible ceasefire remains the EU’s objective, but noted:
“Russia does not want to negotiate at all.”
She also renewed a call for the EU and G7 partners to confiscate frozen Russian assets, arguing that Ukraine will require substantial financing in 2025 and that using immobilized Russian state assets is “the most clear-cut path forward.”
EU Plans Major Upgrades to Roads, Railways, and Bridges
- Strategic rail corridors
- High-capacity highways
- Reinforced bridges
- Key logistics hubs
These improvements aim to ensure that European forces can move rapidly across borders in a crisis — a weakness exposed during earlier NATO readiness exercises.
A Unified Signal to Moscow
Friday’s announcements underscore Europe’s growing recognition that Russian hybrid warfare — from cyberattacks to drone incursions — poses a strategic threat not only to Ukraine but to the EU itself. The deployments and pledges unveiled in Berlin represent Europe’s most coordinated response yet to Moscow’s escalating campaign.
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-- By John James and Andre Leday
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