Ukraine Turns to Europe for Anti-Ballistic Missile Production as US Talks Remain Deadlocked

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has publicly acknowledged a prolonged stalemate in negotiations with the United States to expand the production of anti-ballistic missile systems. In a May 25, 2026 video address, he stated point-blank: "Unfortunately, there has been no progress for a long time with America regarding the expansion of anti-ballistic missile production" . The admission signals a strategic pivot as Ukraine now races to build its aerial shield with European partners rather than waiting for Washington.

Why the US talks have stalled

Three factors have frozen the bilateral discussions.

1. Refusal to grant production licenses
Zelenskyy has been raising the issue of anti-ballistic missile production for years, engaging both the current and previous US administrations, missile manufacturers, and NATO leadership . Ukraine possesses the technology and specialists to develop its own interceptors but needs one critical thing from Washington: production licenses. Despite what Zelenskyy described as promises of licenses, the United States ultimately did not approve them . "For this we need only one thing—licences from the United States of America," he told journalists in March 2026 .

2. Limited missile sales
Even where existing US-made systems are concerned, the supply is restricted. Zelenskyy said the US sells missiles to Ukraine "in quite limited quantities" . The constrained flow means Ukraine cannot replace expended interceptors at the pace Russian attacks demand.

3. American inventory pressure from the Iran war
The US military's own operational demands are a major factor. Sophisticated American-made air defense systems that Ukraine relies on—such as Patriot—are in short supply globally because American inventories have been heavily drawn down by the conflict in Iran . This has left fewer interceptors available for Ukraine, compounding the licensing deadlock.

Ukraine's four-track plan in Europe

Rather than wait, Kyiv is now running multiple parallel initiatives to build air defense capacity with European partners.

Launching a European anti-ballistic coalition
In mid-May 2026, Zelenskyy announced that Europe had started forming a dedicated anti-ballistic coalition, with Ukraine expecting tangible air defense reinforcement by the beginning of summer . This is designed as a structured capability partnership, not simply ad-hoc donations.

Expanding joint production of drones and air defense systems
Ukraine has entered a new phase of defense cooperation with European countries, centred on joint manufacturing. Joint drone production projects are already underway with Germany, France, and the United Kingdom, with Zelenskyy aiming for at least ten confirmed initiatives in 2026 . The same model is being extended to air defense systems, where Kyiv wants to co-produce missiles and interceptors on European soil in sufficient quantities .

Accelerating the PURL initiative
Ukraine is working to bring additional countries and contributions into the PURL program—a multilateral air-defense procurement and funding mechanism. Strengthening PURL is seen as a way to buy interceptors and systems faster while domestic production ramps up .

Pushing for an ‘ASAP for Air Defense’ program
Think tank CSIS has proposed a crash production program modeled on the EU's 2023 Act in Support of Ammunition Production, channelling €5–€10 billion into European-made systems and interceptors. The approach would prioritise European alternatives—such as IRIS-T, SAMP/T, and NASAMS—to reduce dependence on US suppliers for medium-range and cruise-missile defense . Ukrainian demand for air defense interceptors alone is estimated at roughly 4,800 units annually, far exceeding current European production capacity .

The bigger picture: building Europe's shared defensive capability

Zelenskyy has framed the shift as both a necessity for Ukraine and an opportunity for the continent. "Europe must have enough air defense missiles, enough experience in shooting down drones, and sufficient production of modern interceptor drones," he said in March 2026. "Together, we can make this happen" . The European Council has already identified air defense as a priority capability gap and pledged to accelerate the mobilisation of instruments and financing to strengthen the continent's defense industrial base . Ukraine’s pivot from waiting on Washington to co-building with Europe represents both a short-term survival tactic and a long-term structural shift in how the continent approaches missile defense production.