French President Emmanuel Macron pledged to speed up military aid to Ukraine following a phone call with President Volodymyr Zelensky regarding critical air defense shortages.
Key facts
- •President Macron pledged to provide interceptors to help Ukraine defend against Russian aggression.
- •France previously granted licenses for Ukraine to produce ASTER and SCALP missiles.
- •Recent Russian strikes killed 16 people in Kryvyi Rih on Aug. 21 and 15 people in Kyiv on Aug. 20.
- •Zelensky emphasized the necessity of obtaining Patriot system interceptors to survive the upcoming winter.
- •Germany and Ukraine are moving toward a formal agreement for the joint production of BARS jet-powered drones.
Following a nearly two-hour phone call on Aug. 22, French President Emmanuel Macron promised to accelerate the delivery of missiles and military equipment to Ukraine. The commitment follows a week of Russian strikes on Ukrainian civilians. Macron stated on social media that he informed President Volodymyr Zelensky of the decision to strengthen support through the provision of interceptors to help defend Ukrainian skies.
By the numbers
Air Defense and Production Support
President Macron agreed to assist Ukraine in coordinating with international partners who possess Patriot air defense systems, which President Zelensky identified as critical for protection against ballistic missiles. Additionally, Zelensky confirmed France’s willingness to provide licenses for the domestic production of missiles, building on a previous agreement from last month that authorized the production of ASTER and SCALP missiles.
Diplomatic Meetings and Drone Production
On Aug. 22, President Zelensky also met with German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul and former U.S. envoy General Keith Kellogg to discuss air defense needs. Zelensky and Wadephul confirmed that Germany and Ukraine are prepared to sign a drone deal, following a July agreement to jointly produce BARS jet-powered drones with German financing for the initial phase.
Timeline
- July 2026France granted Ukraine licenses to produce ASTER and SCALP missiles.
- Aug. 20, 2026A Russian attack killed 15 people in Kyiv.
- Aug. 21, 2026A Russian attack on a shopping center in Kryvyi Rih killed 16 people.
- Aug. 22, 2026President Zelensky held a phone call with President Macron and meetings with German and U.S. officials.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by Kyiv Independent.
