Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Russia of preparing for a new attack on an unspecified European country. He linked this warning to the frequent appearance of Russian drones in the airspace of European states.
Zelensky emphasized that both the actions and rhetoric from Russian officials support this conclusion. At a recent Russian Security Council meeting, President Vladimir Putin threatened European countries with so-called "military-technical measures" should they continue supporting Ukraine. This term had previously been used by Russia before its large-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov also accused Germany of militarization and even "renazification", comparing current German government goals with those of Adolf Hitler, while criticizing the United Kingdom. Analyst Vitaliy Portnikov noted these statements are reminiscent of Soviet rhetoric before World War II.
Zelensky pointed out that most of the 90 Russian drones heading for neighboring Poland were intercepted by Ukrainian air defense, arguing for a joint air defense system between Ukraine and Poland.
The president said drones have also been reported over Denmark and other European countries, including over military sites. He suggested these actions may aim to increase tension ahead of the EU summit in Copenhagen. Zelensky stressed the need for European solidarity to counter possible escalation.
In the international context, the US and Russian presidents have focused on Europe's responsibility to support Ukraine. Observers believe this rhetoric is part of a broader information pressure strategy.
Vitaliy Portnikov emphasized that Russian provocations are intended to frighten Europeans and push them to reconsider their support for Ukraine, and that drone incursions and inflammatory statements are likely to intensify further.
