Ukraine Joins 9 European Nations to Build Ballistic Missile Defense Shield

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Ukraine and nine European countries have agreed to establish a joint ballistic missile defense coalition aimed at strengthening Europe's protection against growing missile threats, as Kyiv and its allies stepped up security cooperation amid Russia's ongoing invasion.

As reported by DW, the initiative was announced during a meeting of the Coalition of the Willing in Paris on Monday, where European leaders reaffirmed their support for Ukraine while discussing long-term defense cooperation. The coalition brings together Ukraine, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.

In a joint statement, the participating countries said the coalition's goal is to develop "a shared ballistic missile defense capability for Europe" by building an integrated, defensive missile shield to counter future ballistic missile threats.

The leaders emphasized that the project is intended to complement existing national missile defense systems already in operation or planned across Europe.

"We believe that the protection of Europe requires a global solution of integrated missile defense architecture to deter and defeat future missile threats," the statement said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described ballistic missile defense as his country's highest defense priority and said Ukraine would contribute its wartime experience to the initiative.

"Our top priority is anti-ballistic defense," Zelensky wrote on X before attending the Paris meeting.

He said Ukraine would present its Anti-Ballistic Program to partner countries and, for the first time, hold discussions involving heads of state, national security advisers, and defense companies capable of contributing to the development of a new integrated missile defense system.

Zelensky also met French President Emmanuel Macron and participated in Coalition of the Willing talks aimed at expanding military and political support for Ukraine.

Macron announced that the multinational force planned to support Ukraine would conduct military exercises in neighboring countries in the coming months to test deployment plans.

He said the force would only be deployed if a ceasefire is eventually reached between Ukraine and Russia.

According to Macron, the exercises are intended to validate operational plans while demonstrating that participating countries remain prepared to support Ukraine if circumstances require.

Hours before the meeting, Macron also stressed Europe's determination to defend democratic values despite continued security challenges.

"The message we send to the world is this: Yes, peace is our goal. Yes, we cherish freedom and the rule of law. And yes, we stand ready to fight to defend them. Always, and at the cost of blood if necessary," he said.

Meanwhile, tensions between Russia and Europe continued to escalate.

Russia summoned Germany's ambassador to Moscow, Alexander Graf Lambsdorff, to protest Berlin's growing military assistance to Ukraine and accused Germany of supporting capabilities allegedly used to strike civilian targets inside Russia.

Germany rejected the accusations, calling the diplomatic protest "completely baseless."

The diplomatic dispute came shortly after Berlin summoned Russia's ambassador over a series of cyberattacks that German authorities attributed to Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB).

The Paris meeting also took place as the European Union (EU) continued discussions on its proposed 21st package of sanctions against Russia, although EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said member states had yet to reach an agreement.

On the battlefield, hostilities continued overnight, with at least three people reported killed in drone strikes in Russia's Moscow region, underscoring the continuing intensity of the conflict as diplomatic and military efforts proceed simultaneously.

Read: Ukrainian Drone Strikes Ignite Fires at Russian Oil Sites

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