Ukraine's allies announced additional air defence support for Kyiv at a summit in Paris on Monday, along with exercises for the force to be deployed after a ceasefire, as part of efforts to increase pressure on Russia to end the war.
Issued on: 14/07/2026 - 11:40
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Representatives of the 37 coalition members, including Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky, gathered for the 16th meeting of the Coalition of the Willing, launched by France and the United Kingdom to provide military support to Ukraine after Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022. "We are determined to continue supporting Ukraine even faster and more forcefully," French President Emmanuel Macron said at the close of the meeting. What was achieved during the meeting: Establishment of an "anti-ballistic missile coalition" Ukraine will acquire 16 Rafale jets (made by French company Dassault), operational by 2028–2029 Ukraine will be granted a licence to produce Aster missiles used in the French/Italian anti-missile SAMP/T batteries Implementation of a Multinational Force for Ukraine The US is not an active member of the "coalition of the willing" but has sent observers to some of its 16 summits. The current gathering follows US President Donald Trump's announcement, on 8 July, that the US will allow Ukraine to manufacture Patriot systems itself. According to a report by the Congressional Research Service, the Patriot system is the US "most advanced air defence system", and Ukraine has 17 units, but they are "expensive and limited in supply".
