Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that he held a nearly two-hour phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron, during which Ukraine's need for air defense systems was the key topic. The Ukrainian leader briefed his French counterpart on the current situation regarding the shelling of cities and thanked him for the condolences over the loss of lives. As a result of the conversation, the two sides agreed to accelerate the delivery of new defense equipment and missiles, and Paris confirmed its readiness to help strengthen Ukraine's air defense.
Accelerating Deliveries and France's Role in the Air Defense Coalition
The central element of the agreements was France's assistance in sourcing and contracting the scarce air-defense missiles for the Patriot systems. As Zelensky emphasized, Kyiv "greatly appreciates" that the French president is ready to help in communication with other partners that have the necessary missiles for the Patriots. Thus, Paris acts as a diplomatic and financial coordinator in the air defense coalition, facilitating the transfer of munitions from third countries, since France itself does not produce Patriot systems. Separately, the presidents discussed the possibilities of direct French air defense, including the transfer of interceptor missiles, as well as the provision of licenses for the joint production of weapons on Ukrainian territory.
Diplomatic Coordination and Cooperation with the United States
Beyond military-technical issues, the leaders touched on coordinating efforts on the international stage and interaction with the American side. Zelensky noted that the two sides discussed the state of diplomatic work with partners and communication with the U.S. president's team, and agreed on steps that could open additional diplomatic opportunities. The financial needs of Ukraine's defense for the current and subsequent years were also raised separately, and bilateral defense agreements requiring the earliest possible implementation were coordinated.
Context: Missile Shortage Ahead of the Winter Period
The agreements were reached against the backdrop of an urgent need to meet air defense requirements before the start of winter, when the intensity of attacks on civilian infrastructure traditionally increases. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry had previously indicated that the state needs at least 300 missiles for the Patriot systems to effectively protect civilian facilities and get through the upcoming winter period. Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha noted that Ukraine is literally "fighting for" air-defense missiles, and the struggle continues for every single unit of weaponry. Meanwhile, Germany is actively negotiating with European allies and the United States on helping Ukraine with missiles for the Patriot systems, preparing for consultations with U.S. officials to resolve this issue.
