STORY: Russian President Vladimir Putin joked on Thursday (October 2) that he would not fly drones over Denmark any more, referring to incidents last week that forced the closure of Danish airports.

Russia has denied responsibility for the incidents, which have prompted European countries to discuss plans for a "drone wall."

Separately, Poland and its NATO allies shot down Russian drones in Polish airspace last month.

Putin said the "hysteria" about Russian drones over Europe was contrived to distract from problems in the West.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

VIDEO SHOWS: RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN RESPONDING TO ACCUSATIONS AGAINST RUSSIA OF LAUNCHING DRONES IN DENMARK AND OTHER EU COUNTRIES

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: SOCHI, RUSSIA (OCTOBER 2, 2025) (RUSSIAN POOL – Access all)

1.JOURNALIST ASKING QUESTION AT PLENARY SESSION OF THE INTERNATIONAL FORUM VALDAI DISCUSSION CLUB IN PROGRESS

2. PLENARY SESSION IN PROGRESS

3.(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) PLENARY SESSION MODERATOR FYODOR LUKYANOV, SAYING:

"Vladimir Vladimirovish (Putin), why do you send so many drones to Denmark? They feel uncomfortable. Please, do not!"

4.(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN PRESIDENT, VLADIMIR PUTIN, SAYING:

"I will not. I will not (send) any more drones neither to France, nor (CLOSE-UP OF PUTIN) to Denmark., Copenhagen. Where else do they fly to? (LUKYANOV ANSWERING OFF CAMERA: “Everywhere”) To Lisbon. You know, people who used to have fun about UFO’s things are now having fun there. There are so many odd guys there, as we have, by the way. And here we have no difference - especially, if we talk about some young people. They are able to launch it (drones) every day. Every day! So, it is for them (for those countries) to catch it."

5.AUDIENCE LISTENING

6. (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN PRESIDENT, VLADIMIR PUTIN, SAYING:

"If we speak seriously, we do not have drones which can reach Lisbon. We have some long range drones but there (in Lisbon and other EU cities) we do not have the aims. This is the most important thing. And it is just about the other way to escalate the situation to fulfil the directives of Washington (OVER WIDE SHOT OF SESSION) “bureau” and to increase spending on the defence."

7.VARIOUS OF AUDIENCE LISTENING

8.(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN PRESIDENT, VLADIMIR PUTIN AND PLENARY SESSION MODERATOR FYODOR LUKYANOV, SAYING:

PUTIN: "The hysteria is pumped.

LUKYANOV: “Now, you frightened Portugal, when you mentioned Lisbon. They do not have a good sense of humour."

9. PUTIN SIGNING DEEPLY

10. (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN PRESIDENT, VLADIMIR PUTIN AND PLENARY SESSION MODERATOR FYODOR LUKYANOV, SAYING:

LUKYANOV: “Ok, ok. We should say it was a joke.”

PUTIN: “No. No.”

LUKYANOV : “Sorry. So it was not a joke, it was the warning”.

PUTIN: “When you are warned, you are armed.”

11.PLENARY SESSION IN PROGRESS