Overview

• At meetings in Copenhagen, EU and partner leaders backed a continent‑wide, 360‑degree approach to drone defense and hybrid threats but left binding choices for the 23–24 October European Council.
• The proposed €140 billion reparations‑style loan using frozen Russian state assets gained political traction, yet Belgium demanded legal safeguards and shared liability, calling the scheme very risky.
• Friedrich Merz said he expects a decision window in three weeks, while figures such as Viktor Orban and Giorgia Meloni voiced reservations or cautions about using the principal of Russia’s funds.
• French forces boarded an oil tanker tied to Russia’s shadow fleet off Saint‑Nazaire and arrested two crew members, with unconfirmed suspicions it may have supported recent Danish drone overflights.
• Poland reported a Russian cutter lingering about 300 meters from a Baltic pipeline before leaving after radio contact, and separate reports say the United States is considering sending Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine, prompting Russian escalation warnings.