Von der Leyen meets Baltic presidents in Vilnius over drone threats and Russian aggression

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen met with the three Baltic state presidents in Vilnius to discuss Russia's destabilisation activities and recent drone incidents along NATO's eastern flank.

European Commission President [Ursula von der Leyen](/politicians/ursula-von-der-leyen) convened with the presidents of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania in Vilnius to address growing security concerns on NATO's eastern flank, with drone defence and Russian subversive activities topping the agenda.

The talks focused on a string of recent drone incidents in the Baltic region, which have heightened anxieties among member states bordering Russia. Officials have been pressing for stronger coordinated responses to aerial intrusions and hybrid threats that have become increasingly frequent in recent months.

Russian destabilisation efforts — ranging from infrastructure sabotage to disinformation campaigns — were also central to the discussions. Baltic leaders have repeatedly called on EU and NATO partners to treat these threats with greater urgency, arguing that what happens on NATO's eastern border affects the security of the entire alliance.

The Vilnius meeting underscores the European Commission's deepening engagement with Baltic security priorities, as Brussels works to align civilian and military tools in response to hybrid warfare. Von der Leyen's visit signals continued high-level attention to the region at a time when tensions with Moscow remain elevated.