Zelensky Touches Down in Paris to Talk ‘Anti-Ballistics’

President Volodymyr Zelensky said the “anti-ballistic” system would top the agenda during his visit to Paris on Monday.

Shortly after landing in Paris, Zelensky said he would present the plan to Kyiv’s allies and rally support from “leaders, national security advisors, and defense companies.”

“The main priority is anti-ballistics. We will present our Anti-Ballistics Program to our partners and, for the first time, we will hold a meeting at the level of leaders, national security advisors, and defense companies of countries that can make concrete contributions to building a new anti-ballistic system,” Zelensky wrote in a Telegram update.

Zelensky has amplified the project in recent months amid waves of deadly Russian strikes, also mentioning the initiative during last week’s NATO summit, when the US signaled its intention to grant Kyiv a license to manufacture Patriot air defense missiles.

The Ukrainian leader likely referred to the “Freya” system, Kyiv’s domestic project to potentially replace the US Patriot system due to the latter’s scarcity despite its effectiveness.

However, little is known about the project at present.

The Freya, developed by Ukrainian arms maker Fire Point, is a joint effort between France, Germany, Norway, and Ukraine. The company’s CEO said in May that it expects “the first interceptions by the end of the year.”

The CEO added that Freya is financed by participating companies, while intergovernmental agreements provide mechanisms for sharing technologies between countries.

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President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced an upcoming reshuffle of Ukraine’s Cabinet of Ministers and law enforcement agencies, with a new role offered to Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko.

On Monday, Zelensky added that he would also meet with French President Emmanuel Macron and participate in the Coalition of the Willing summit.

Sources at the Élysée Palace previously told state media Ukrinform that at least 25 heads of state and government are expected to attend alongside Zelensky, where the group is likely to discuss potential expansion to include Moldova and North Macedonia and potential defense projects.

The UK- and French-led Coalition of the Willing was formed to coordinate financial and military support for Ukraine. In its early stages, the coalition focused on potential troop deployments to postwar Ukraine as part of security guarantees.

While some progress has been made on the plans, the initiatives have seen limited updates amid uncertainty over US backing.

In his update, Zelensky added that First Lady Olena Zelenska would have a meeting with UNESCO to “discuss the further development of the strategic partnership and the expansion of cooperation between Ukraine and the Organization within the framework of UNESCO’s mandate.”