At the EU summit in Copenhagen October 1-2, European government leaders made clear once again that their response to the war in Ukraine is not primarily diplomacy, but escalation. Behind the rhetoric of ‘peace,’ Brussels is driving the bloc toward deeper militarization, centralization, and a posture that risks prolonging and widening the conflict.
European Council President António Costa set the tone with calls for greater central control: “To build the Europe of defense we need efficient political oversight and coordination to keep track on how we are advancing.” He insisted that “we are committed to face together common threats, on all fronts … with a common purpose,” arguing that this purpose “has been clear since the start of Russia’s war in Ukraine.”
The message was reinforced by several leaders. Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen warned that “Russia has intensified its attacks in Ukraine … They are threatening us, they are testing us, and they will not stop.” She declared: “It’s up to us to deliver on Ukraine. Everybody knows now what is at stake … our main goal is to build a Europe so strong that war is simply not an option.”
Italy’s Giorgia Meloni echoed this, claiming that what she called Russia’s “increasing provocations” could be a tactic to distract from Moscow’s military failures. Poland’s Secretary of State Ignacy Niemczycki went further, hailing the EU’s transformation: “It’s important to recognize this moment in the history of the EU. Right now, the EU is becoming an important player in defense as well. This wasn’t the case even two years ago.” He dismissed the idea of negotiating with Moscow: “Everyone understands that there’s no sense in negotiating with Putin if we don’t have tools in our hands—sanctions is one, having a defense industry that can deliver is another.”
Talks at the summit ran for twice as long as scheduled, with leaders eager to outline how the bloc could ramp up common defense efforts. Proposals such as Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s ‘drone wall’ to guard against Russia were debated extensively. “Everyone knows now that drones have changed the whole idea of a war,” Frederiksen said, adding, “Cross-border we have to invest in drone technology, in countering drones.”
While EU Defence Commissioner Andrius Kubilius said earlier this month that a drone wall was an “immediate priority,” the EU’s “big four”—Germany, France, Italy, and Spain—were hesitant. France’s Emmanuel Macron said the project should not and could not be rushed because of its complexity; Italy’s Giorgia Meloni reminded the gathered heads of government of the EU’s extensive borders; while Spain’s Pedro Sánchez and Germany’s Friedrich Merz ducked the question entirely. German defense minister Boris Pistorius, however, earlier in the week at the Warsaw Security Forum, expressed doubts about the speeded-up process encouraged by the Commission, saying, “I very much appreciate the idea of a drone wall, but we should pay attention to manage expectations. We are not talking about a concept that will be realized in the next three or four years.”
The general message of continued support for Ukraine’s war efforts was, however, reinforced again on Thursday, when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky joined EU leaders for a joint press conference. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz underlined the EU’s direction, saying leaders showed “great determination to continue helping Ukraine.”
Zelensky pushed EU leaders to move faster on enlargement and energy decoupling from Moscow, warning: “Any connection with Russia can be used against you, so the fewer ties with Russia, the safer life will be, and life must be protected.” Denmark’s Frederiksen backed him directly, dismissing Hungary’s opposition: “I will not allow one country, and I will certainly not allow Viktor Orbán to take decisions about the entire European future.”
On weapons, Frederiksen gave a blunt answer to whether the EU was ready to help scale up Ukraine’s production of drones and missiles: “Yes.” Zelensky added that Ukraine will be “the driving force” of the proposed European drone wall, drawing on its battlefield experience. When asked about long-range strikes, he suggested Ukraine could soon acquire more advanced capabilities after his recent talks with the U.S., saying: “After my meeting with the President of the United States, yes, we will, maybe, have something more. I don’t know. We’ll see.”
For Brussels, ‘peace’ appears synonymous with continuing to arm Ukraine, tightening sanctions, and building a Europe defined by military readiness. Hungary has emerged as the most outspoken critic, calling instead for negotiation and de-escalation. But while Hungary may seem alone in its position, between the cost of the war, the financial difficulties faced by member states, and the dwindling support from constituents at home, cracks in the rhetoric about supporting Ukraine as long as needed and at any price are beginning to show.
