A new military cooperation project is taking shape in Europe. During the summit of the 37-country "Willing" coalition, gathered in Paris at the initiative of French President Emmanuel Macron, nine European states along with Ukraine announced their intention to develop a joint shield against ballistic missiles.
The initiative involves France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, Spain, the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Ukraine, with the goal of strengthening both the protection of Ukrainian territory from Russian attacks and the defensive capability of the entire continent.
In a joint statement, the leaders emphasized that the project is designed solely to ensure the safety of European citizens and does not pose a threat to other countries. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also described the missile shield as a decisive step towards a more integrated European defense, stating that cooperation will allow for faster implementation and cost containment.
The summit was attended by around twenty heads of state and government, including British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk. Italy was represented by Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani. Also present were the presidents of European institutions Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, and Zelensky himself.
In his speech, Macron spoke of a "strategic awakening" of Europe, asserting that the continent is strengthening its defense capabilities and international role. The French president reiterated that the goal remains peace, but added that European states must be ready to defend freedom and democracy.
Moscow's reaction was quite the opposite. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called the coalition a "warlike initiative," accusing the participating countries of fostering the illusion of being able to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia. President Vladimir Putin, on the other hand, claimed that Russian forces continue to maintain an advantage on the battlefield.
Beyond military aspects, the summit served to reaffirm political and economic support for Ukraine. On the sidelines of the meeting, the European Union and the United Kingdom concluded an agreement on British participation in the 90 billion euro loan program intended to finance assistance to Kyiv and the purchase of defense equipment.
Meanwhile, on the Ukrainian domestic front, President Zelensky is reportedly considering a new government reshuffle, with possible changes at the top of the executive and the Ministry of Defense.
(Associated Medias) - All rights reserved