Nine European countries and Ukraine announced on Monday in Paris the creation of an integrated anti-ballistic missile coalition, a project designed to pool defence industrial bases, research, and operational experience. The joint declaration by Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and Ukraine described the initiative as “purely defensive” and open to additional members. It cited the “unique experience of Ukraine,” whose air defences have faced repeated Russian ballistic missile strikes, as a central asset in developing a shared European capacity to deter and defeat future missile threats.

Viewed from Paris, the coalition represents a concrete step toward European strategic autonomy in defence, a priority that has gained urgency amid questions over the long-term reliability of US security commitments. French President Emmanuel Macron characterised the launch as a “first experiment in shared defence” among European nations. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky argued that strengthening Kyiv’s ability to intercept ballistic missiles would increase pressure on Moscow to negotiate, stating that the project, known as Freyja, is intended as a lower-cost complement to existing systems such as the US-made Patriot and the Franco-Italian SAMP-T. Russian media reported the announcement factually, noting the defensive framing and the coalition’s openness, while some European analysts cautioned that Moscow might perceive the initiative as an escalatory step despite the declaration’s insistence that it is “not against any people, but in defence of our own.”

The immediate operational context is Ukraine’s critically low stock of air-defence munitions, which has left it largely unable to intercept ballistic missiles travelling at several times the speed of sound. The coalition plans to define common operational requirements, establish technical working groups, and produce a roadmap for initial capabilities. Joint exercises are to be held in countries bordering Ukraine, though not on Ukrainian territory. The initiative will involve around a dozen defence firms, including Eurosam, Thales, Leonardo, Saab, and Ukraine’s Fire Point, and aims to accelerate joint research, development, and potential co-production of interceptors. It is designed to complement, not replace, existing national and NATO systems, and it builds on earlier efforts such as the German-led European Sky Shield Initiative, which some participants had initially viewed with scepticism over its reliance on non-European technology.

The coalition was unveiled on the margins of a broader summit of the “Coalition of the Willing,” attended by some 25 heads of state and government, which focused on formulating a common position toward Russia and security guarantees for Ukraine. Leaders also discussed measures to curtail Moscow’s oil revenues, including action against the “shadow fleet” of tankers used to evade sanctions. The European Union is expected to approve a new sanctions package in the coming weeks. The anti-ballistic missile coalition’s next steps include forming technical groups and a governance framework, with the aim of making initial elements operational over a multi-year timeline. The project remains open to other countries that share its objectives, and further high-level meetings are anticipated to advance the roadmap.