Ukraine and nine European countries have announced a new joint air defense initiative aimed at strengthening protection against Russian missile threats, including hypersonic weapons.

The announcement came during a meeting in Paris, with France, Germany, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and Ukraine agreeing to deepen cooperation on integrated missile defense capabilities.

The move follows a new wave of Russian strikes across Ukraine. Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov criticized the initiative, accusing the participating countries of pursuing a confrontational approach.