Ukraine's Zelensky: We have to create an effective air shield over Europe

The Ukrainian president says an incursion into Poland by Russian drones means Europe has to work on creating a joint air defence

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks during a press conference following a Coalition of the Willing Summit at the Elysee presidential Palace, in Paris, France on Sept 4, 2025.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Wednesday that an incursion into Poland by Russian drones meant Europe had to work on creating a joint air defence and an effective air shield.

"We need to work on a joint system of air defence and create an effective air shield over Europe," Zelensky wrote on Telegram after speaking by telephone to Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and other European leaders.

"Ukraine proposed this a long time ago. There are concrete decisions on this. We must react together to all current challenges and be prepared for potential threats to all Europeans in the future," he added.

Speaking later in his nightly video address, Zelensky said Ukraine had presented proposals for joint protection of European airspace "in a coordinated, well-thought-out, joint way".

"No one can guarantee that there won't be hundreds, if there are already dozens of drones. Only joint European forces can provide protection," he said.

Zelenskiy suggested that joint Russian-Belarusian military exercises due to get under way in Belarus could serve as a "training plan" for future Russian action.

Strong action is vital, he said, to counter what Russia was doing.

"There are more than enough statements, but so far there is a shortage of action," he said.

"The Russians are testing the limits of what is possible. They are testing reactions. They are monitoring how NATO countries' armed forces act, what they can do and cannot yet do."

Zelensky said Ukraine and all of Europe were "very much counting on a strong reaction from the United States".