Ukraine and allies launch coalition to tackle Russia’s ballistic missiles
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- Ukraine and nine European countries — Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden and the UK — launched an "Integrated Anti-Ballistic Missile Coalition" at Monday's Paris "Coalition of the Willing" meeting, joined by a dozen defence-sector firms.
- The Freyja project — the coalition's planned anti-ballistic missile system — is positioned as a cheaper European alternative to the US Patriot system, intended to supplement rather than replace existing defences.
- Zelenskyy argued the coalition creates a "strong shield over the entirety of Europe" and said stronger air defence raises the chance "that Putin will come to the negotiating table, as his last argument in this war will no longer work."
- Macron announced Ukraine has ordered 16 Franco-Italian Rafale fighter jets for delivery in 2028-2029 and received a licence to produce French SCALP cruise missiles.
- Allies also agreed to begin military exercises in countries neighbouring Ukraine, as part of a plan for a multinational force to deploy after a ceasefire with Russia.
- Russia has escalated ballistic missile and drone strikes on Ukraine in recent weeks, exploiting what the source calls Kyiv's "critical shortage of air defences" and killing dozens of civilians, including at least four last weekend.
Why it matters: The Freyja project directly challenges the US Patriot's monopoly on advanced European air defence, with 10 nations and a dozen defence firms now committed. Ukraine gains near-term concrete deliverables — 16 Rafale jets, a SCALP production licence, and post-ceasefire multinational deployment exercises — while Zelenskyy explicitly ties enhanced missile defence to pushing Putin toward negotiations.
