Ukraine, Nine European Nations Form Anti-Ballistic Missile Coalition in Paris

On July 14, Ukraine and nine European countries formally agreed to establish a joint ballistic missile defense system during a meeting of the "Coalition of the Willing" in Paris. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy underscored the critical need for early preparation and sufficient defense capabilities, stating this would reduce Russia's incentives to prolong hostilities.

The coalition's objective is to build a shared ballistic missile defense capability for Europe, leveraging Ukraine's extensive combat experience. In response, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov condemned the initiative, labeling it "warmongering" and warning of intensified Russian responses to Ukrainian attacks.

Separately, Russia's Defense Ministry reported carrying out precision strikes on military-industrial facilities in Kyiv, claiming all designated targets were successfully hit using high-precision weapons and drones. Ukrainian authorities confirmed these airstrikes in Kyiv and other regions, noting that air defense systems were activated and damage assessments are underway.