Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is set to meet with nearly 50 European leaders in Copenhagen on Thursday. The summit comes after drone flights over Denmark and airspace incursions in Estonia and Poland heightened alarm across Europe. With U.S. President Donald Trump cutting off Washington’s aid, Zelensky is rallying support from his remaining allies, while EU leaders look to Ukraine’s battlefield experience to strengthen their own defenses and build a “drone wall” against Moscow.
A central focus of the discussions is a proposal to use frozen Russian assets to secure a new €140 billion loan for Ukraine. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen argued that Russia, not European taxpayers, should bear the cost of the war, calling support for Kyiv an “investment in Europe’s own security.” While EU chief Ursula von der Leyen promised deeper talks, Belgium — which holds the bulk of frozen Russian funds — raised concerns over shouldering the risk. The debate underscores the urgency of securing long-term financing for Ukraine’s armed forces.
The summit also highlights divisions over Ukraine’s EU accession bid, with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban blocking progress and warning that Kyiv’s membership would drag war and costs into the Union. Hungary, one of the few EU states still importing Russian oil, is also resisting pressure to cut energy ties with Moscow — a stance backed by Trump’s demand that NATO allies halt fossil fuel purchases from Russia. Zelensky, addressing leaders via videolink, urged unity: “Those who choose ties with Russia instead of America are going against both Europe and the U.S. We truly hope that Hungary will listen to the shared signals from all of us.”
