French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed that France will supply Ukraine with interceptor missiles as part of an enhanced support package, following a nearly two-hour phone call with President Volodymyr Zelensky on Aug. 22.
In a statement on X, Macron said the decision followed recent Russian strikes, including an attack on Kryvyi Rih. He stated that the delivery of interceptors aligns with commitments made during the Anti-Missile Coalition meeting in Paris on July 13 and a letter of intent signed on Nov. 17, 2025.
Macron also urged other nations with air defense capabilities to contribute to the effort, asserting that Russia’s systematic targeting of civilians reveals a position of weakness.
The French president added that the two leaders discussed the upcoming meeting of the Coalition of the Willing, scheduled for Monday, Aug. 24, focusing on security guarantees and international mobilization for peace efforts.
Previous agreements and intelligence support
Zelensky previously stated that the Aug. 22 discussions also covered France’s willingness to assist in securing Patriot missile systems from other international partners and granting licenses for domestic missile production in Ukraine.
The leaders addressed defense financing requirements for 2026 and 2027, as well as diplomatic coordination with the US.
The agreements on advanced weaponry follow recent reports indicating that French intelligence is actively supporting Ukraine’s long-range strike capabilities.
Ukrainian officials stated that intelligence provided by France and the US has helped map Russian air-defense deployments, identifying routes that allow Ukrainian drones to evade interception and reach targets deep inside Russia.
This data sharing supports a shift in Ukraine’s drone campaign against Russia’s energy industry. Ukrainian military planners and drone operators noted the strategy has moved from starting general fires at refineries to targeting specific, hard-to-replace components, aiming to keep facilities offline longer and increase financial costs for Moscow.