New Missile Defense Coalition: Ten States Strengthen Ukraine's Air Defense

A joint declaration stated that the aim of the coalition was to build a shared defense capability against ballistic missiles for Europe by pooling industrial capacities, research and operational experience. Explicitly: "Durch die Bündelung unserer industriellen Verteidigungsbasis, unserer Forschung und unserer operativen Erfahrung ist es unser Ziel, eine gemeinsame Abwehrkapazität gegen ballistische Raketen für Europa aufzubauen und relevante unterstützende Aktivitäten zu fördern".

Why ammunition is scarce

The backdrop is the growing threat from Russian missile attacks on Ukraine. Patriot systems are considered the most effective defensive weapon against Russian ballistic missiles. Ammunition – particularly PAC-3 guided missiles – is however scarce, because production in the United States is only ramping up slowly. Deliveries to Israel in connection with the Iran war have also further reduced stockpiles.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had stated ahead of the Paris meeting that the initiative was about building a new missile defense system. According to his information, Ukraine is working on its own defense system called Freyja, which is intended to serve as a cost-effective and capable alternative to the US Patriot system. Zelensky also lobbied for new ammunition for the existing Patriot systems.

US President Donald Trump had promised Ukraine a license for the production of Patriot ammunition at the NATO summit in Ankara. This step is described as a long-term solution, while stocks on the ground are currently tight – a situation that Russia, according to Western partners, is exploiting. The new coalition is intended to close the gap through industrial cooperation in Europe.

Tensions with Moscow intensify

On the margins of the Paris meeting, diplomatic tensions with Russia also came into focus. The Foreign Office had previously summoned Russian Ambassador Sergei Nechayev over alleged malicious cyber activities originating from Russia. In Moscow, German Ambassador Alexander Graf Lambsdorff was simultaneously summoned to receive a protest note against Berlin's alleged involvement in attacks on civilian infrastructure in Russia by the "Kyiv regime." Graf Lambsdorff is set to take up his new post as ambassador to Israel shortly; Clemens von Goetze is to become the new German ambassador to Russia.

Parallel to the political consultations, mutual attacks continue. According to Kyiv, a Russian airstrike on a foreign freighter in the port of Chornomorsk near Odessa killed at least three crew members and injured five others. The Ukrainian agricultural company Kernel said it was temporarily shutting down its port facilities in Chornomorsk after severe damage caused by Russian missile and drone attacks from Friday to Sunday. On the other side, Ukrainian drone commander Robert Brovdi said Ukrainian drones had hit 15 Russian ships in the Sea of Azov in one night, including seven tankers. Russian air defense claimed to have shot down 349 Ukrainian drones in one night.

The new coalition is another building block of European support for Kyiv, aimed beyond weapons deliveries at lasting industrial capacities. Zelensky had only recently renewed his demand for new ammunition for the Patriot systems. The pooling of research, production and operational know-how agreed in Paris is intended to enable Ukraine in the medium term to defend itself more independently against Russian missile attacks.

On July 12, 2026, Zelensky had also announced a cabinet reshuffle, in which, among others, Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko was replaced. The step was justified by a changed foreign policy strategy. Observers interpret this as a signal that Kyiv is realigning its diplomatic and military course in the face of the ongoing Russian attacks.