Ukraine and nine European countries announce a coalition to develop “purely defensive” ballistic missile protection for Europe, citing a growing threat from ballistic missiles. The joint initiative is announced in Paris as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky meets allies, with the countries reaffirming support for Ukraine and highlighting the ongoing war beyond its fifth year.
According to the coalition’s declaration, the effort aims to build shared ballistic missile defence capability through an integrated architecture, combining research and technology cooperation and involving defence industry coordination. The partners say the goal is to deter and defeat future missile threats while serving a defensive posture. Several reports note that the coalition draws on Ukraine’s battlefield experience in combating missile attacks.
Some outlets also describe the initiative as intended to complement existing European and allied air defence systems, and to provide a potentially more cost-effective European alternative to US-made options such as Patriot systems. Reporting also indicates the coalition plans multinational cooperation and exercises to build credibility and interoperability among participating countries.
