Ukraine and allies launch anti-ballistic missile coalition in Paris

Ukraine and nine European countries have announced a new coalition to develop a shared anti-ballistic missile capability, in a move unveiled during talks in Paris. The announcement came as leaders gathered for a Coalition of the Willing summit focused on support for Ukraine and pressure on Russia to end the war. The plan is intended to strengthen Europe's ability to respond to ballistic missile threats, which the countries involved described as growing.

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The coalition includes Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine and the United Kingdom. In a joint statement, the leaders said they wanted to build an integrated missile defence architecture to deter and neutralise future missile threats. They also said the project would complement existing ballistic missile defence systems and could remain open to other countries.

The new initiative comes as Ukraine faces intensified Russian missile and drone attacks and a shortage of air defences. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly urged allies to provide more weapons and to work with Kyiv on a joint anti-ballistic system. The coalition's stated aim is to develop a lower-cost alternative to the United States' Patriot system, with Zelenskyy saying partners could jointly produce a mass-produced system within the next 12 months.

The announcement is significant because ballistic missiles are harder to intercept than cruise missiles or drones, and their use has become a central concern for Ukraine and European security planners. The war has already pushed European governments to reassess their air defence posture, especially as Russia continues to strike civilian and energy infrastructure. The coalition also reflects a broader effort to turn Ukraine's wartime experience into part of Europe's long-term defence planning.

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The talks in Paris brought together dozens of heads of state and defence-sector representatives, underlining the industrial as well as military dimension of the project. According to the joint statement, the coalition is meant to rely on collective effort, technological openness and trusted industrial cooperation. That language suggests the initiative is not only about immediate battlefield needs, but also about building a more coordinated European defence base.

The move also comes against the backdrop of a wider exchange of long-range strikes between Kyiv and Moscow. Ukraine has stepped up attacks inside Russia, including on refineries, tankers and weapons facilities, while Russia has responded with heavier missile and drone barrages. Russian officials criticised the coalition, calling it a hostile grouping, but the Paris statement framed the project as a defensive response to an evolving threat.

What remains unclear is how quickly the coalition can move from political agreement to a functioning system, who will lead the technical work, and how the programme will be funded. The statement did not give a timetable, and it did not set out the operational structure. The next stage will be whether participating countries can turn the announcement into a practical capability that can be produced at scale and integrated into existing European defences.

Ukraine and nine other countries have agreed to build a shared European ballistic missile defence capability, in a move announced during talks in Paris with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The coalition includes the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden and Spain, according to the joint statement. The plan is intended to strengthen protection against ballistic missiles, which the countries said are a growing threat.

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The statement said the aim is to create an integrated missile defence architecture to deter and neutralise future missile threats. It also said the coalition would draw on Ukraine's experience of defending itself during Russia's full-scale invasion, which has continued for more than four years. No timetable was given for the programme, and the statement did not set out the operational structure or funding details.

The announcement came as Zelenskyy sought faster progress on Ukraine's air defences ahead of winter, when Russia typically intensifies attacks on energy, heating and water infrastructure. He was also expected to meet national security advisers and defence companies that could take part in the project. The talks in Paris brought together European leaders at a time when missile and drone attacks remain central to the war and to wider European security concerns.

The agreement matters because it signals a deeper military-industrial and strategic alignment among European states and Ukraine. Ballistic missiles are harder to intercept than cruise missiles or drones, making them a particular concern for air defence planners. The coalition's language suggests the project is meant not only to support Ukraine, but also to improve Europe's own long-term resilience against missile threats.

The same meeting also produced a separate step in EU-UK cooperation, with the United Kingdom signing up to participate in the European Union's €90bn support loan for Ukraine. Under that arrangement, British firms will be able to provide more weapons paid for by the funds. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the move would help Ukraine defend itself against Russian aggression while also backing British defence companies and skilled jobs.

The broader significance is that the Paris talks reflect a continuing effort by European governments to coordinate more closely on defence after years of fragmented policy. The coalition said it recognised Ukraine's unique wartime experience, indicating that Kyiv is being treated as a contributor to European security planning as well as a recipient of aid. What remains unclear is how quickly the missile defence programme can be turned into a practical system, which countries will lead it, and what resources will be committed next.

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