Europe to build a protective shield against ballistic missiles together with Kyiv

Paris – July 14, 2026: Ukraine and nine European countries aim to build a joint capability to intercept ballistic missiles. The agreement was reached in Paris on Monday after President Emmanuel Macron, the leaders of the participating countries and other partner representatives met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. In addition to Ukraine, Denmark, Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom are participating. This is a response to the experience of a war in which the range and speed of Russian missiles have transformed not only Ukraine’s infrastructure but the entire European security order. The new alliance is intended to be more than a political declaration. According to European accounts, an integrated program is planned to develop systems that complement or replace U.S.-made Patriot systems at lower cost. For Kyiv, this is of direct importance. The greater the ability to intercept ballistic missiles, the less effective Russia’s strategy of putting pressure on cities, energy supplies and military logistics from long range becomes. Zelenskyy explicitly linked this military-technological development to a political calculation. He said that if Russia loses this capability, the Kremlin’s willingness to engage in serious negotiations will increase. Macron went further in announcing the establishment of the alliance. France said it would enable Ukraine to produce French cruise missiles, precision-guided bombs and air-defense interceptor missiles domestically. Kyiv has also reportedly ordered the next-generation system of the Franco-Italian SAMP/T, regarded as a European capability for intercepting ballistic missiles, as well as Rafale fighter jets. However, actual implementation will require several years, stable financing and close cooperation among the participating defense industries. This is precisely where the strategic significance of the decision in Paris lies. Europe is seeking to combine national capabilities that have often been fragmented in a field where U.S. technology and political guarantees have so far set the standard. The meeting of the so-called coalition of the willing, involving more than 30 countries and attended by around 25 heads of state and government, also conveyed a second message. European support for Ukraine should not depend on the pace at which negotiations may progress. Macron announced that a multinational force for Ukraine will conduct exercises in neighboring countries in the coming months. The force will be kept ready for deployment in the event of a ceasefire. This new missile defense network is both a protection project for the present and preparation for a still uncertain postwar order.