Ukraine Forms Anti-Missile Alliance with 9 European Countries, Peskov: "Volunteer Alliance" Aims to Continue the Conflict

[Global Times Special Correspondent in Russia, Xiao Xinxin] According to a report by AFP on the 13th, the "Volunteer Alliance," led by France and the UK and aimed at providing security guarantees for Ukraine, held a summit in Paris on the same day. Multiple countries expressed their intention to aid Ukraine "faster and more powerfully" to pressure Russia into returning to the negotiating table. During the summit, Ukraine, France, Germany, the UK, and other countries announced the establishment of a "purely defensive" missile defense alliance to build a shared ballistic missile defense capability for Europe. The Russian newspaper "Kommersant" reported on the 14th that Europe's actions with Ukraine are clearly intended to obstruct the peaceful resolution process of the Ukraine issue once again. Russian presidential spokesman Peskov stated on the 13th that the "Volunteer Alliance" is a "militant alliance."

According to reports from AFP and other media, French President Macron stated during the summit on the 13th that the "Ukrainian Multinational Force" will conduct exercises in some neighboring countries of Ukraine within months. This force will be deployed in Ukraine as a "completely defensive" force after the Russia-Ukraine ceasefire, providing security guarantees. France also reached agreements with Ukraine to authorize the production of AASM guided bombs, "Violet" 30 air defense missiles, and "Scalp" cruise missiles, and will deliver 16 "Rafale" fighter jets and their weaponry to Ukraine, with the first batch of aircraft expected to be in service in Ukraine between 2028 and 2029. On the same day, UK Prime Minister Starmer stated that about 25 countries are currently planning to participate in the "Ukrainian Multinational Force," and he confirmed that the UK will join the EU's military financing plan for Ukraine, totaling 90 billion euros. Polish Prime Minister Tusk stated on the 14th that the British and French armies will participate in joint military exercises to be held in Poland this autumn, aimed at preparing the "Volunteer Alliance" forces to provide security guarantees for Ukraine and the entire region.

Regarding the newly formed missile defense alliance, Macron stated on the 13th that the alliance's focus is on developing the new "Freyja" missile defense system. Reports indicate that "Freyja" is a ballistic missile defense project led by Ukrainian enterprises, aimed at becoming a more cost-effective alternative to the US "Patriot" air defense system.

Reuters reported on the 13th that over the past month, Ukraine has found it difficult to intercept ballistic missiles launched by Russia. Ukraine hopes to use this summit to request more assistance from allies and urge Europe to cooperate with it, while jointly developing its own missile defense system through the missile defense alliance. According to the Ukrainian news agency, Ukrainian President Zelensky stated on the 13th that strengthening Ukraine's missile defense capabilities is a key factor in ending the war; the more means Ukraine has to intercept Russian ballistic missiles, the more likely Russia will sit at the negotiating table. He hopes that "Freyja" will be operational within the next year.

According to a report by the Russian news agency TASS, Russian President Putin stated on the 13th during an event in Moscow that the Western "anti-Russian forces" are confronting Russia, but Russia is still moving forward, improving its economy and armed forces, and continuously achieving new results in the defense field. Strikes against Russian territory will be met with "proportional and multiple retaliatory strikes." He also stated that Ukrainian military actions have indeed caused some problems for Russian oil products, but the situation will gradually improve, as Russia has a very strong and reliable energy foundation.

Additionally, in response to German Chancellor Merz's statement on the 13th that Russia cannot participate in the formulation of security guarantees for Ukraine, Russian presidential spokesman Peskov stated on the 14th that this indicates a "stalemate" in Europe's position. Without Russia's participation, it is fundamentally impossible to formulate a security guarantee mechanism. If Europe truly insists on this position, it will be absolutely impossible for Europe to participate in the resolution process of the Ukraine issue. Previously, Peskov stated on the 13th that the "Volunteer Alliance," as a "militant alliance," does not wish to see peace and is intent on prolonging the conflict, believing it can strategically defeat Russia. These countries are taking hostile actions against Russia, and Russia will closely monitor the developments related to the "Volunteer Alliance."     

According to analyses cited by Russian "Military Observer" and others on the 14th, the missile defense alliance will not have a significant effect on improving Ukraine's air defense in the short term, and Russian ballistic missiles are capable of continuing to strike Ukrainian targets. Furthermore, there are still many differences within the "Volunteer Alliance," with Italy, Poland, and others previously indicating no intention to send ground troops to Ukraine, and the level of US support for this is also unclear. According to a report by Bloomberg on the 14th, Bulgaria did not participate in the summit on the 13th, and its Prime Minister Radev announced the country's withdrawal from the "Volunteer Alliance," stating that Bulgaria has no intention of participating in an alliance that insists on continuing to provide weapons and funds to Ukraine, believing that this move is counterproductive.