Ukraine and allies launch coalition to tackle Russia’s ballistic missiles

Russia has escalated attacks in recent weeks, taking advantage of Ukraine’s critical shortage of air defences.Russia has launched a new ballistic missile attack on Kyiv, the city’s mayor said, hours after ⁠Ukraine and nine European countries announced an air defence coalition aimed at countering the ballistic missile threat from Moscow.The Ukrainian capital’s mayor Vitali Klitschko said early on Tuesday that air defence units were attempting to repel the attacks. He added that fires had broken out in the Holosiivskyi district of the city after the attacks.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4Russian missile and drone barrage kills eight and wounds dozens in Ukrainelist 2 of 4Ukraine’s Zelenskyy announces cabinet reshuffle, replaces PM Svyrydenkolist 3 of 4Nine dead as Russia and Ukraine trade drone and missile salvoslist 4 of 4EU sanctions nine people over alleged Russian cyber-spying campaignend of listThe attacks are part of a Russian escalation in recent weeks that has led to repeated attacks on Ukraine, as well as Ukrainian attacks on Russian territory. At least nine people were killed on Sunday in attacks in both Ukraine and Russia.The latest attacks on Kyiv highlight the increasing danger posted to Ukraine by Russian ballistic missiles, which travel at several times the speed of sound.Dozens of heads of state were in Paris on Monday at a meeting of the “Coalition of the Willing” to discuss how to support Ukraine and pressure Russia to end the war, now well into its fifth year. The coalition’s plans include the development of a new anti-ballistic missile system as an alternative and cheaper solution to the United States’ Patriot system.The ongoing war in Ukraine has raised concern across Europe about the potential threat from the east.Overall, 10 countries, along ⁠⁠with a dozen firms from the defence sector, met to discuss what they called the Integrated Anti-Ballistic Missile Coalition.“We believe that the protection of Europe requires a global solution of integrated missile defence architecture to deter and defeat future missile threats, developed through collective effort, technological openness and trusted industrial cooperation,” the ⁠⁠leaders of Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine and the UK said in a statement.