Nine European countries and Ukraine on Monday announced the creation of a coalition to develop shared anti-ballistic missile capabilities, formalising a defensive pact on the margins of a larger summit of Kyiv’s supporters in Paris. The joint declaration, signed by Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom and Ukraine, described the initiative as “purely defensive” and cited the “growing threat” of ballistic missiles. It stated the aim was to build an integrated missile defence architecture for Europe by pooling industrial bases, research and operational experience, with specific reference to Ukraine’s recent exposure to repeated Russian ballistic strikes.

French President Emmanuel Macron used his traditional pre-Bastille Day address to the armed forces to frame the moment as a European “strategic awakening”. He said the continent was “in the process of becoming a power” and that its message to the world was a readiness to defend freedom and the rule of law “always, and at the cost of blood if necessary”. Macron also called for deeper European defence-industrial cooperation, while expressing regret over the abandoned Franco-German SCAF combat aircraft project. The speech preceded a meeting of the wider Coalition of the Willing, co-chaired by Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in attendance.

Moscow responded sharply. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described the coalition as “a gathering of warmongers” labouring under a “profound illusion” that Russia could be strategically defeated. The Russian foreign ministry separately summoned Germany’s ambassador, accusing Berlin of complicity in Ukrainian attacks on civilian infrastructure inside Russia. In parallel, France and Germany summoned Russian ambassadors over what Paris described as a large-scale Russian cyber-espionage and sabotage campaign targeting ten European countries. The European Union, meanwhile, prepared to adopt a 21st sanctions package against Russia the following week, and leaders at the summit discussed measures to curb Moscow’s revenue from its shadow oil tanker fleet.

According to French presidential officials, the summit’s agenda concentrated on anti-ballistic-missile cooperation, including efforts to source additional US-made Patriot interceptors, accelerate deployment of the Franco-Italian SAMP-T system, and explore how European and Ukrainian defence industries could jointly develop alternatives. One option under discussion was a Ukrainian-led project, codenamed Freyja, intended to complement existing systems at lower cost. Officials also confirmed that the Multinational Force for Ukraine (MNFU), designed to be deployed after a ceasefire to deter renewed Russian offensives, would be formally declared ready, with joint military exercises to be scheduled. France, Britain and Spain have indicated willingness to contribute ground troops, though Moscow has warned any foreign forces would be considered legitimate targets.

The anti-ballistic coalition and the MNFU readiness declaration mark a further institutionalisation of Western military support for Ukraine as the war enters its fifth year. Ukraine’s air defences have been critically depleted, leaving it largely unable to intercept ballistic missiles over the past month, a vulnerability that Kyiv has sought to address by pressing allies for both immediate supplies and longer-term co-production arrangements. The United States, while not a formal member of the Coalition of the Willing, has signalled it would participate in ceasefire monitoring and recently authorised licensed production of Patriot systems in Ukraine, though experts in European defence circles caution that such systems will take years to enter service. The Paris meetings are set to continue with a Bastille Day military parade on Tuesday, where some 500 troops from coalition member states will march alongside French forces in a display of unity.