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Ukraine is expanding defense cooperation with European partners as work accelerates on a joint missile defense architecture designed to strengthen air protection across the continent, UATV English reports.
Head of the Presidential Office Andriy Yermak discussed the creation of a unified European anti-ballistic defense system with European Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius, while Kyiv continues to deepen cooperation with France, Germany, Italy and other members of the newly established anti-ballistic coalition.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Ukraine is nearing completion of the development of its own anti-ballistic missile, which will become part of the European FREYJA missile defense project. The system is intended to provide a more affordable and scalable alternative to the U.S.-made Patriot system.
“Ukraine has the missile, but it is only one part of the system. Together, we can create this missile and this system within the next 12 months, preferably on a mass-production scale,” Zelenskyy said.
The FREYJA initiative already brings together Ukraine, France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, the Netherlands, Spain, as well as representatives of NATO, the European Union and leading European defense companies. Participants signed a declaration establishing an integrated anti-ballistic coalition that will combine industrial capacity, technological expertise and battlefield experience to develop new interceptor capabilities and a shared European missile defense architecture.
Military analyst Oleksandr Musiienko said the project is intended to complement, rather than replace, Patriot production.
“Ukraine already has technological groundwork, but additional components such as radars are needed. Together with our partners, we can solve this issue. That is exactly what the anti-ballistic coalition is designed to achieve,” he said.
At the same time, European partners are expanding defense-industrial cooperation with Ukraine. France has agreed to license production of Aster 30 missiles for SAMP/T air defense systems, SCALP cruise missiles and AASM Hammer precision-guided bombs in Ukraine.
French President Emmanuel Macron said the war has demonstrated the importance of expanding Europe’s defense manufacturing capacity.
“The war against Ukraine has shown that strategic security depends not only on stockpiles, but also on production capacity. Ukraine has given Europe an important lesson in this regard,” Macron said.
Ukraine is also broadening cooperation through the Drone Deal initiative. Kyiv has already reached agreements on joint drone production with nine countries, while negotiations with another 20 partners are ongoing, according to the Presidential Office.
In parallel, Ukraine and the Netherlands launched the Brave Netherlands initiative, a joint grant program between the Brave1 defense technology cluster and the Dutch Ministry of Defence. The fund will support Ukrainian and Dutch companies developing drones, robotic systems, missile technologies, electronic warfare capabilities and artificial intelligence solutions aimed at strengthening both Ukraine’s defense and Europe’s long-term security.
