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) Zelensky ⁠and I agreed on a roadmap between our two countries, implementing what had ‌been agreed in principle last November regarding our bilateral ⁠defence cooperation,” Macron said at a news conference following a meeting of some 25 leaders in Paris.

Macron’s ​announcement marked the first time France ‌has agreed to licence production to Ukraine, a move that would enable it to ramp up stocks at a time when ‌Russia is intensifying strikes on the country.

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 Zelensky 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.

Anti-ballistic missile coalition

Nine European countries and Ukraine on Monday announced the formation of a coalition to develop “purely defensive” anti-ballistic capabilities in Europe, citing the growing threat of ballistic missiles. 

“We believe that the protection of Europe requires a global solution of integrated missile defence architecture to deter and defeat future missile threats,” said the joint declaration by Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine and the United Kingdom.

“By bringing together our defence industrial base, our research, and our operational experience, we aim to build a shared anti-ballistic missile capacity for Europe,” it said.

“We do this not against any people, but in defence of our own,” it added, citing the “unique experience of Ukraine” whose air defences have faced repeated Russian ballistic missile strikes in recent weeks. 

In a message on X, Macron said that with the launch of the anti-ballistic coalition, Europe was supporting Ukraine and strengthening the continent’s defence the capabilities.

‘Coalition of the Willing’

The announcement came hours after Zelensky arrived in France Monday for a ‌meeting of the “Coalition of the Willing”, part of broader efforts that include putting together ⁠a common position that could be taken to Russia, and security guarantees to support any eventual peace deal.

“We will… for the ‌first time, hold ​a meeting at the level of leaders, national ​security advisors, ​and defence ​companies from countries that ​can make a concrete contribution to building a new ⁠anti-ballistic system,” Zelensky ⁠said ​on X.

Monday’s meeting comes days after a NATO summit that aimed to show transatlantic ‌unity and long-term support for Ukraine.

The Kremlin dismissed the coalition as leaders who “do not want peace”, while saying that Moscow would be watching “closely”. 

“This is a coalition of warmongers,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, accusing the group of wanting to “continue the war” and adding: “These are the countries that are undertaking hostile actions against Russia, so we will be watching very closely.”

Russia launched missile and drone attacks on Ukraine on Saturday, killing ⁠eight people and wounding dozens more, officials said, as Zelensky called for efforts to provide Kyiv with weapons faster.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP, AP and Reuters)