Ukraine to Manufacture French Missiles and Order Warplanes, Macron Says

PBS News

French President Emmanuel Macron greeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday that France would allow Ukraine to produce French-made cruise missiles, precision guided bombs and air defence interceptor ‌missiles after Kyiv ordered next generation Franco-Italian air defence systems and Rafale fighter jets.

"Earlier this afternoon President (Volodymyr) Zelenskiy and I agreed on a roadmap between our two countries, implementing what had been agreed in principle last November regarding ⁠our bilateral defense cooperation," Macron said at a news conference following a meeting of some 25 leaders in Paris.

The production centres around AASM precision-guided air-to-ground bombs, Aster air-defence ‌interceptor ⁠missiles and SCALP, long-range air-launched cruise missiles, which Britain also produces.

Macron said radar systems were also being ceded to Ukraine. He said Zelenskiy had also ordered the delivery of next generation SAMP-T air defence ⁠systems, which would follow deliveries of the older version and a batch of missiles.

Sixteen Rafale warplanes would also be delivered with a view ⁠to operating in Ukraine's skies by 2028-2029, Macron said.

Macron also said Ukraine's allies had agreed to begin military exercises in ⁠countries neighbouring Ukraine as part of a plan for a multinational force that would deploy once there is a ceasefire with Russia.

Source: Reuters



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