Poland joins European anti-ballistic coalition at Carpathian summit in Ukraine

Accession to the anti-ballistic coalition

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on 18 September 2026 that Poland has joined the European anti-ballistic missile coalition. The defense initiative was originally formed in July 2026 during a Coalition of the Willing meeting in Paris, where Ukraine partnered with nine European states: France, Great Britain, Germany, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Norway, Denmark, and Sweden. Poland had not participated in the July signing, which Tusk described as a misunderstanding regarding Polish industrial readiness and technical contributions. During a joint press conference on Friday, both leaders confirmed that Poland is now a formal partner in the development of the European missile defense architecture.

We are now building an anti-ballistic coalition, we will create a European anti-ballistic system, I am 100 percent convinced of this. We will talk about this with Donald and you will be welcome there, we will be partners there.

Launch of the Carpathian Eight format

The announcement coincided with the inaugural summit of the Carpathian Eight (C8), held in the town of Huta in western Ukraine. The new regional forum includes Ukraine, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary, and the European Union as an institutional partner. Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and Romanian President Nicușor Dan attended the meeting in person, while Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico canceled his travel due to illness and was represented by Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok. Zelenskyy stated that the Carpathian macro-region has become a vital corridor for security, energy links, and transit due to Russian blockades in the Black Sea and disruptions to overland supply chains.

Regional economic and infrastructure strategy

During the summit, participating leaders presented nearly 100 business projects spanning the eight member nations, representing a combined value of almost €40 billion. Ukrainian officials project that regional economic growth across the Carpathian area could expand at twice the average rate of the European Union in the coming years. The coalition plans to advocate for a formal EU-level macro-regional strategy for the Carpathians, mirroring existing frameworks established for the Baltic Sea and Danube River basins. This mechanism aims to streamline European funding allocations for border infrastructure, local municipal bodies, cross-border commerce, and transport corridors.

Winter security warnings and defense readiness

Addressing security concerns ahead of the summit, Tusk reported to the Polish Sejm that intelligence assessments anticipate late autumn and winter to be the most critical operational period of the conflict to date. Russian forces have deployed high-speed jet-powered strike drones capable of operating at elevated altitudes before engaging targets, focusing heavily on Ukrainian manufacturing and energy networks. Tusk noted that Poland is reinforcing military fortifications and infrastructure at eastern border checkpoints to shield personnel against potential cross-border missile or drone incidents. During bilateral discussions in Huta, Tusk also addressed regional reconciliation, stating that mutual understanding requires acknowledging past historical grievances without justifying wartime crimes.

Today Ukraine is fighting, but we must be prepared for all possible scenarios. Therefore, our solidarity and our presence here is important not only for Ukraine, but also for our nations and our countries.