13 European Countries, NATO Launch Anti-Ballistic Coalition in Kyiv on May 12

Thirteen European countries and the NATO Secretary General's office met in Kyiv on May 12 to launch an «anti-ballistic coalition». President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated this initiative aims to coordinate the manufacturing of missile defenses in Europe, which are currently not produced at scale.

The meeting, held at the national security adviser level, signifies a shift from bilateral to multilateral commitment. Ukraine's primary defense against Russian ballistic missiles is the American Patriot system with PAC-3 interceptors, but the U.S. produces insufficient quantities to meet global demand. Russia produces approximately 70 ballistic missiles monthly; in January 2026 alone, it launched 91 ballistic missiles at Ukraine, the highest monthly total since the war began. Annual global production of PAC-2 GEM-T and PAC-3 MSE interceptors is around 850–880, barely exceeding Russia's estimated annual ballistic missile output, before accounting for other international demands.

Ukraine's air defense batteries are on a «starvation ration», with roughly 80% of its territory exposed to ballistic threats. The European alternative, the Franco-Italian SAMP/T with Aster 30 interceptors, has limited anti-ballistic capability and «comparatively tiny» production. France and Italy have supplied two SAMP/T batteries, compared to about 10 Patriot systems from Western partners.

This May 12 meeting builds on previous discussions, including Germany and Ukraine signing a strategic partnership in April to finance «several hundred» PAC-2 GEM-T missiles produced in Bavaria. The new multilateral format, with NATO political backing, aims to address the constraint of U.S. State Department approvals for Patriot components and missiles. Zelenskyy indicated that a European anti-ballistic system would need to be built by April 2027. The coalition has not yet specified timelines, production targets, or financing structures.