Key facts
- Ukraine and nine European nations have formed an anti-ballistic missile coalition.
- The coalition aims to build a shared protection program for Europe against ballistic missiles.
- The initiative will leverage Ukraine's experience in defending against Russian missile attacks.
- The Freya air defense project will be supported by the coalition.
- The announcement was made during a meeting in Paris attended by President Zelenskyy and European leaders.
- The coalition aims to deter and defeat future missile threats, complementing existing ballistic missile defence systems.
Ukraine and nine European nations, including the UK, Germany, and France, have established an anti-ballistic missile coalition aimed at building a shared protection program for Europe against ballistic missiles. The initiative, announced during talks in Paris attended by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, seeks to leverage Ukraine's experience in defending against Russian missile attacks. The coalition recognizes the growing threat posed by ballistic missiles and aims to create an integrated missile defense architecture.
The participating European countries include Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Spain. President Zelenskyy confirmed that the coalition would support Ukraine's Freya air defense project, designed by Fire Point, which aims to complement existing European air defense systems. The announcement coincides with the UK signing up to participate in the EU’s €90bn support loan for Ukraine, allowing UK firms to provide more weapons.
French President Emmanuel Macron used the occasion to warn European countries against fragmented national defense policies, emphasizing the need for collective rearmament in response to Russia's threat and increased military spending pressure from the US. He highlighted that nationalism risks undermining Europe's drive to rearm together.