An overview of a European Union summit in Copenhagen focused on defence against Russian aggression and the future of Ukraine’s EU accession. The meetings were set against a backdrop of heightened security concerns, prompting Denmark to ban civil drone flights following mysterious drone sightings, which leaders like Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen labeled as hybrid warfare tactics by Russia. A major point of friction was Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s opposition to both fast-tracking Ukraine’s membership and plans to use frozen Russian assets for aid, leading to a clash with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Despite Orbán’s resistance, EU leaders broadly supported proposals to strengthen defenses, including a “drone wall,” and plan to revisit a detailed defense roadmap at a later summit.
