NATO said Wednesday it was testing new anti-drone defences on its eastern flank, as the alliance scrambles to counter the threat from Russia after a series of air incursions.
High-profile incidents in Poland and Estonia have set off a flurry of activity 鈥� at NATO and the European Union 鈥� to plug gaps in the continent鈥檚 defences.
The alliance has launched a new mission and beefed up forces on its eastern border, but it is playing catch up as it tries to tap Ukraine鈥檚 experience and get to grips with the drone threat from Moscow.
鈥楴ATO will implement a number of additional counter drone measures that will build on and expand and accelerate our ability to counter drones,鈥� EU chief Mark Rutte said after a meeting of NATO defence ministers in Brussels.
鈥榃e are testing integrated systems that will help us detect, track and neutralise aerial threats.鈥�
The push from the military alliance comes as the EU, which will convene its own meeting of defence ministers on Wednesday evening, has proposed creating a 鈥榙rone wall鈥� to try to tackle the menace.
Brussels wants to have the project up and running by the end of 2027 鈥� but there is scepticism from some EU countries and fears the bloc is treading on NATO鈥檚 toes.
鈥楲et me say it once and for all, the EU and NATO are working hand in hand, closely together, and we both know our strength,鈥� Rutte insisted.
The drone initiative is one of several flagship EU projects aiming to prepare the bloc for potential conflict with Moscow in the coming years.
The EU will present a road map to ministers on Wednesday and hopes to get sign off at a leaders鈥� summit next week.
While NATO looked to address potential threats to the alliance, it also sought to bolster Ukraine鈥檚 current fight against Russia.
US defence secretary Pete Hegseth issued a strident call for more countries to contribute to a US scheme that sees allies pay for American weapons for Ukraine.
鈥榊ou get peace when you are strong, not when you use strong words or wag your finger, you get it when you have strong and real capabilities that adversaries respect,鈥� Hegseth told reporters.
鈥楴ow is the time for all NATO countries to turn words into action,鈥� the Pentagon chief said. 鈥楴o free riders.鈥�
Hegseth and Rutte said they expected a string of countries to announce new money for the programme set up by Trump over the summer, beyond the two billion dollars committed so far.
Washington has shifted closer to Kyiv as US president Donald Trump has lost patience with Russian leader Vladimir Putin for stalling on peace efforts.
Ukraine鈥檚 defence minister Denys Shmygal said Kyiv hoped the total committed under the initiative would reach 鈥�12 to 20 billion dollars鈥� next year.
He said that overall Kyiv was looking to get support for its military worth some $60 billion from its backers in 2026.
The talks among Ukraine鈥檚 supporters come as Trump mulls the supply of long-range Tomahawk missiles to Kyiv.
The Kremlin has warned Washington against the move, but Trump may be willing to let Kyiv hit far inside Russia to pressure Putin towards peace.
The US leader is set to host Ukraine鈥檚 president Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday at the White House.
