NATO leaders and EU officials convene in Brussels as Ukraine seeks asset-backed support

Defense and space officials gathered in Brussels at the Albert Hall on the day of the Euronews Defence and Space Summit where senior figures including NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev and European Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius participated in discussions focused on rising hybrid threats and support for Ukraine.

The summit took place against a backdrop of intensified Russian hybrid warfare, with reports of sabotage, arson and drone incursions heightening alarm across Europe. Estonia recently accused Russia of an arson attack in August targeting a major drone manufacturer, a development that prompted NATO to reaffirm continued support for Kyiv despite escalating threats.

In Brussels, urgency over Ukraine’s finances featured prominently as Ukrainian Finance Minister Sergii Marchenko urged the EU to consider using immobilised Russian sovereign assets to help close a potential $78 billion funding gap next year. The EU holds €210 billion of such assets, primarily in Euroclear, and Marchenko discussed the political and legal complexities of creating a centralised framework to deploy those funds.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen began her Western Balkans tour in Albania, with planned visits to Kosovo, Montenegro and North Macedonia later in the week. The itinerary excluded Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina due to upcoming elections. The tour coincided with a postponement of the Commission’s pre-enlargement policy reviews from 30 September to 6 October and highlighted Montenegro’s need to resolve a bilateral dispute with Croatia to maintain its accession prospects.

In an exclusive interview from Kyiv, Kyrylo Budanov, head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, said countries that have drone cooperation agreements with Ukraine could gain access to its latest interceptor technology. Euronews also reported from Ukrainian air-defence units around Kyiv, where crews described confronting faster jet-powered drones with only seconds to react and severe impacts on rest and readiness.

Liberal News Analysis: What Does This Development Mean?

The Brussels summit underscored a dual challenge for Western partners: responding to immediate security threats while addressing a looming financial shortfall for Ukraine. High-level participation by NATO and EU officials highlights a commitment to sustaining defence cooperation despite evolving hybrid tactics. Kyiv’s proposal to tap immobilised Russian assets introduces a politically sensitive but potentially significant mechanism to shore up wartime financing, and it is likely to shape donor discussions in the near term. Von der Leyen’s Western Balkans visits signal continued EU engagement on enlargement priorities even as the Commission adjusts its timeline for accession planning.

Quick Glance: What You Need to Know

• The Euronews Defence and Space Summit convened senior NATO and EU defence figures in Brussels to discuss hybrid threats and support for Ukraine.
• Estonia accused Russia of an arson attack on a drone manufacturer, increasing concerns about hybrid attacks in Europe.
• Ukraine urged the EU to consider using €210 billion in immobilised Russian assets to address a projected $78 billion funding gap next year.
• Ursula von der Leyen launched a Western Balkans tour starting in Albania while the Commission postponed pre-enlargement reviews to 6 October.
• Kyrylo Budanov indicated partner countries could negotiate access to Ukraine’s new jet-drone interceptor technologies.