French President Emmanuel Macron has promised to strengthen support for Ukraine by accelerating deliveries of interceptor missiles after discussing Kyiv’s air-defence shortage with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The pledge comes during a surge in Russian strikes that has pushed civilian deaths in the war to their highest level since the first months of Moscow’s invasion, according to the source material.
What France has agreed to provide
Zelenskyy said the two leaders had agreed to accelerate deliveries of the latest French equipment and missiles. He also thanked Macron for confirming France’s readiness to provide licences for missile production, although neither leader gave further details on quantities or delivery dates.
Macron said France would continue working with the Anti-Missile Coalition, launched at a meeting in Paris in July. The coalition brings together 10 European countries developing an anti-ballistic missile system intended as a cheaper alternative to the US Patriot system.
Related coverage: How Russia’s missile attacks are deepening Ukraine’s air-defence crisis.
Why air defence is central to Ukraine’s needs
At the July meeting, Macron said France would advance deployment of the SAMP/T air-defence system to Ukraine and license Kyiv to manufacture interceptor missiles, the SCALP long-range cruise missile and other munitions.
The Patriot is the only weapon in Ukraine’s arsenal capable of downing the high-speed ballistic missiles Russia has used in recent attacks, according to the source material. Those weapons can reach targets within minutes, leaving little time for civilians to reach underground shelters.
Deadly strikes reported across Ukraine and Russia
Macron expressed “horror and emotion” to Zelenskyy over a strike on a shopping centre in Kryvyi Rih that killed 16 people as rescuers searched the rubble. The city is Zelenskyy’s home town.
More context: Kyiv court detains organiser of weapons expo hit by Russian missile attack.
A Russian ballistic missile fired towards Kyiv during the visit of German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul killed two people and wounded several others in the Boryspil district, according to Ukrainian officials. Odesa regional governor Oleg Kiper said three people, including a 16-year-old girl, were wounded in a prolonged combined strike that hit a house and grain silos. Officials also reported at least four deaths in strikes in the frontline region of Zaporizhzhia.
Diplomatic and military pressure continues
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Ukraine’s strikes on targets linked to financing Moscow’s war effort had opened a “Pandora’s box” of retaliation. Russian officials said Ukrainian drones killed at least 10 people across Russia and Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine, including at an Ozon warehouse and an industrial facility. Ozon said the attack caused injuries.
The Coalition of the Willing, led by France and Britain, is due to meet on Monday to consider ways to increase pressure on Moscow. The source material says diplomacy has stalled with the US, which had brokered direct talks between Kyiv and Moscow and is now focused on its war with Iran.
Also read: Kyiv reports fires after early-morning missile attack.
No comments yet. Start the discussion.