Ukraine and nine other countries including Britain, Germany and France announced Monday they will develop a joint ballistic missile defence system for Europe, drawing on Kyiv's four-year experience fighting Russia's invasion.

The 10 nations issued a joint statement during talks in Paris with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy. "Our goal is to build a shared ballistic missile defence capability for Europe," they said. The coalition also includes Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden and Spain.

The announcement came as Britain also signed up to participate in the European Union's €90 billion (£77 billion) support loan for Ukraine. This means British defence firms will be able to provide weapons paid for by the funds. British prime minister Keir Starmer said the move was crucial: "This agreement will help ensure Ukraine gets the support it needs to defend itself against Russian aggression, while backing British defence companies, supporting skilled jobs and strengthening our national security."

The new anti-ballistic programme would involve "an integrated missile defence architecture, to deter and neutralise future missile threats," according to the statement. The coalition recognised "the growing threat posed by ballistic missiles," which are harder to stop than cruise missiles or drones. However, no timeframe for the programme was given.

Zelenskyy travelled to Paris keen to accelerate European efforts to develop Ukraine's air defences ahead of winter, when Russia typically intensifies attacks to cut off electricity, heat and water. French president Emmanuel Macron also announced that the Multinational Force for Ukraine—to be deployed if a ceasefire is reached—will hold exercises in neighbouring countries in the coming months to test deployment plans.

In Layman Terms

Russia has been firing ballistic missiles at Ukraine for years. These are rockets that fly high into the air and come down on targets—they're different from cruise missiles, which fly low, or drones, which are piloted remotely. Ballistic missiles are particularly hard to shoot down because of how they travel.

Ten European countries have now decided to work together to build a shared system to defend against these missiles. Think of it like neighbours pooling money to hire a security guard instead of each hiring their own. Ukraine, which has been fighting Russia directly, will share what it has learned about defending against these attacks. The countries will design one integrated system—meaning all the radar, computers and weapons will work together as one network across Europe, rather than each country having its own separate system.

Separately, Britain has also joined the EU's massive loan to Ukraine (€90 billion). This money helps Ukraine buy weapons and keep the government running. Because Britain is participating, British companies can now sell weapons to Ukraine using this loan money.

Why This Matters

Russia's missile attacks have killed thousands of Ukrainian civilians and destroyed critical infrastructure. A shared European defence system would protect not just Ukraine but all of Europe from similar threats. For Britain, joining the EU loan and the defence project shows closer co-operation with Europe after Brexit, which could strengthen security ties across the continent.

For Ukraine, the support means more weapons and air defence systems to protect its population during winter, when Russian attacks typically worsen. For European countries, it signals they are taking Russia's military threat seriously and are willing to invest in collective defence.

What We Still Don't Know

The statement did not specify when the anti-ballistic programme will be operational or how much it will cost. It is unclear which country will lead the project or how decisions will be made. The exact technical specifications of the system and which weapons or radar systems will be used have not been disclosed. It is also unknown whether other European countries might join the coalition later.

Sources: The Guardian World