Nine European countries and Ukraine announced the creation of a coalition to develop anti-ballistic capabilities in Europe to protect the continent.
“We believe that the protection of Europe, requires a global solution of integrated missile defence architecture to deter and defeat future missile threats,” said a joint declaration by Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine and the United Kingdom.
“Faced with the ballistic threat, we are making a clear choice: protect Ukraine, strengthen our collective security, and build the Europe of defence,” France’s President Emmanuel Macron wrote on X.
The statement comes on the sidelines of the “Coalition of the Willing,” with at least 25 heads of state or government attending the meeting Paris on Monday and Tuesday to discuss support for Ukraine and increasing pressure on Russia.
Ahead of the meeting, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Macron, in which he said the two “spoke in detail about the situation on the front and Ukraine’s needs in protecting people from Russian attacks”.
“It is important to strengthen Ukraine, reinforce our air defences, and accelerate the development of Europe’s anti-ballistic capabilities,” he said, adding that “France has precisely the capabilities and advanced technologies needed to help”.
The summit meeting—hosted in Paris and jointly led with the United Kingdom—will push for a ceasefire and renewed peace talks, the French presidency said on Friday.
Meeting at the Hôtel des Invalides, the allies will aim to “strengthen” a renewed sense of unity and cooperation in support of Ukraine, according to the French presidency.
This commitments build on pledges made at the recent G7 summit in Évian and at the NATO summit in Ankara, where allies agreed to sending €70 billion in military aid to Kyiv in 2026.
The coalition has now expanded to include 37 countries, meeting both in person and via video conference. Two new members, Moldova and North Macedonia, are scheduled to take part in Monday’s meeting for the first time.
The Kremlin on Monday dismissed the summit, calling it a “coalition of warmongers,” in which leaders “do not want peace”.
Macron: Europe will defend freedom at all costs
The meeting comes the day before France’s national public holiday Bastille Day.
Speaking to the armed forces ahead of a meeting of Ukraine’s allies, Macron said Europe would defend freedom and rights at all costs.
“The message we are sending to the world is the following: Yes Peace is our goal. Yes, we cherish freedom and rights. And yes, we stand ready to fight to defend them always, even at the cost of blood if necessary,” the French President said.
“In a few years, we will have built new capabilities in Europe and orchestrated a strategic awakening, Macron added, emphasising that “Europe is becoming a power” that is “ready to defend itself”.
Zelenskyy is expected to be in Paris on Monday and Tuesday. All leaders are expected to attend the military parade on the Champs Elysees in central Paris on the country’s national day.