Poland announced on Sept. 18 that it has joined a Ukraine-led anti-ballistic missile coalition, Prime Minister Donald Tusk said. The coalition—first outlined in July—aims to develop a cheaper, jointly built alternative to the U.S. Patriot system. Tusk also revealed Poland has prepared a "significant" new aid package for Ukraine, which President Zelenskiy publicly thanked.
Poland Joins Ukraine-Led Anti-Ballistic Missile Coalition, Tusk Announces Major Aid Package
FILE PHOTO: Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk during Polish-Swedish intergovernmental consultations at the naval base in Gdynia, Poland, June 29, 2026. REUTERS/Lukasz Glowala/File Photo
Sept. 18 — Poland has formally joined an anti-ballistic missile coalition alongside Ukraine and other European partners, Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Friday.
"From today, Poland is part of this major project ... we agreed on the forms and frameworks of this cooperation,"Tusk said in a video posted on X.
Tusk made the announcement while attending a summit of a newly formed regional group of eight Carpathian countries, held in western Ukraine and launched by President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
Coalition Aim
The coalition, first announced in July by Ukraine and nine European nations, aims to jointly develop a new anti-ballistic missile system intended as a less costly alternative to the U.S. Patriot system. Participating countries hope the collaborative approach will speed development, reduce costs, and strengthen regional air-defence interoperability.
Poland's Support
At a press conference during the summit, Tusk said Poland has prepared a new "significant" donation package for Ukraine but did not disclose details. He added,
"I will be very consistent here. No one will change my opinion that Poland has to support Ukraine in its war against Russian aggression ... History cannot divide us vis-a-vis Russia today,"
After a bilateral meeting at the summit, President Zelenskiy thanked Poland for the new aid package, writing on Telegram: "Ukraine and Poland are strong neighbors, friends, and partners, and we have one common enemy."
What Comes Next
Officials did not provide a timeline or technical details for the missile-development project or the Polish donation. Observers say the initiative signals growing European collaboration on air-defence capabilities independent of U.S.-supplied systems.
(Reporting by Anna Pruchnicka in Gdansk and Alan Charlish in Warsaw; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
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