Ukraine, 9 European nations form ballistic missile shield coalition
Why it matters: The group aims to build a shared European defense system and turn Ukraine’s wartime experience into a broader deterrent against Russia.
Ukraine and nine European countries formed a coalition Monday to develop a joint ballistic missile defense capability for Europe, citing a rising threat from harder-to-intercept missile attacks. The announcement came in Paris during talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and leaders from Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom. In a joint statement, the countries said they plan to define shared operational requirements, set up technical working groups and create a roadmap and governance mechanism. The effort is intended to complement existing missile defenses and remains open to other countries. No timeline was given for deploying a European system.