Don’t miss the full story, whose reporting from Lorne Cook at The Associated Press is the basis of this AI-assisted article.

​European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warned that Russia is conducting a “targeted gray zone campaign” against Europe through airspace violations, sabotage and cyberattacks that require an urgent European response.

Some key facts:

• Russia breached Estonia’s airspace with fighter jets and deployed drones over military bases in Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Poland and Romania within just two weeks.

• The European Commission is preparing a defense plan to be ready by 2030 to confront gray zone threats from Russia.

• EU officials believe Russia could be capable of launching an attack on another European country within three to five years.

• The plan includes developing a “drone wall” of high-tech systems to detect, track and destroy drones.

• Von der Leyen stated it is not sustainable to scramble latest-generation fighter jets to counter relatively cheap drones.

• The EU wants at least 65% of defense projects funded with its money to be based in Europe. Currently, European member nations place about two-thirds of their defense orders with U.S. companies.

• French President Emmanuel Macron called for shooting down drones entering European airspace and boarding shadow fleet ships transporting oil.

READ MORE: EU chief says Russia is waging a ’gray zone campaign’ and Europe must meet the challenge

This article is written with the assistance of generative artificial intelligence based solely on Washington Times original reporting and wire services. For more information, please read our AI policy or contact Ann Wog, Managing Editor for Digital, at awog@washingtontimes.com

The Washington Times AI Ethics Newsroom Committee can be reached at aispotlight@washingtontimes.com.