Zelensky: France to speed up air defence deliveries, missiles to Ukraine
Synopsis
After a two-hour call with Macron, Zelensky secured French pledges to speed up air defence deliveries and share missile production licences — a concrete escalation in Paris’s support posture. The backdrop: a Russian drone strike on a Kryvyi Rih shopping centre killed at least 16 people, sharpening the urgency of Ukraine’s Patriot missile shortage.
Key Takeaways
Volodymyr Zelensky and Emmanuel Macron held a nearly two-hour call on 23 August .
France agreed to accelerate delivery of air defence equipment and missiles to Ukraine .
Paris will also provide licences for domestic production of relevant missiles in Ukraine.
Macron pledged to help facilitate communication with other partners holding Patriot system missiles.
A Russian drone strike on a Kryvyi Rih shopping centre killed at least 16 people and wounded 130 on Friday.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Saturday, 23 August that France has agreed to accelerate the delivery of air defence equipment and missiles to Ukraine, and will also provide licences for the domestic production of relevant missiles. The commitment followed a nearly two-hour phone call between Zelensky and French President Emmanuel Macron.
What Zelensky Said
Posting on social media platform X, Zelensky described the conversation as “very good” and said the two leaders covered “all the most important issues.” He wrote: “We highly appreciate that the President of France is ready to help communicate with our other partners who have the necessary missiles for Patriots.”
Zelensky added that he briefed Macron on recent Russian strikes on Ukrainian territory, stressing that air defence systems remain Ukraine’s most pressing need. He also expressed gratitude for Macron’s condolences over Ukrainian lives lost in the strikes.
Macron’s Pledge on Interceptor Missiles
Macron separately posted on social media that he was “shocked” by the heavy civilian casualties caused by a strike on a shopping centre in Ukraine. He confirmed that France would “step up support” for Ukraine’s air defence capabilities, specifically by providing interceptor missiles. France also agreed to help facilitate communication between Ukraine and other partner countries that hold Patriot air defence system missiles.
Kryvyi Rih Strike: The Backdrop
The call came days after Russian drone strikes hit a shopping centre and other facilities in the central Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih on Friday, killing at least 16 people and wounding 130 others, according to Ukrainian national news agency Ukrinform. The attack on a civilian commercial space drew sharp international condemnation and underscored Ukraine’s repeated calls for faster weapons deliveries.
Diplomatic and Defence Agreements Discussed
Beyond air defence, Zelensky said the two leaders discussed the state of diplomatic engagement with partner nations and communication with the team of the President of the United States. “We agreed on steps that could open up additional diplomatic opportunities,” Zelensky noted. Funding for Ukraine’s defence needs in 2025 and 2026 was also on the agenda, with both sides identifying bilateral defence agreements requiring acceleration.
What Comes Next
The French commitment to accelerate deliveries and share missile production licences marks a tangible escalation in Paris’s military support posture. With Patriot missile stockpiles stretched across multiple partner nations, Macron’s role as a diplomatic intermediary could prove as significant as the direct hardware pledges. All eyes will be on whether other European partners follow France’s lead in the coming weeks.
Point of View
If acted upon swiftly, could reduce Ukraine’s long-term dependence on partner stockpiles — a structural fix rather than a one-time shipment. Macron’s offer to broker communication between Ukraine and other Patriot-missile holders also signals Paris positioning itself as a central node in Western defence diplomacy, filling a coordination gap that has slowed deliveries for months. The real test is execution speed: Ukraine’s air defence grid is under daily pressure, and diplomatic goodwill has historically outpaced actual hardware on the ground.
NationPress
23 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did France agree to provide Ukraine after the Zelensky-Macron call?
France agreed to accelerate the delivery of air defence equipment and missiles to Ukraine, and to provide licences for the domestic production of relevant missiles. President Macron also pledged to help Ukraine communicate with other partner countries that hold Patriot air defence system missiles.
Why is air defence Ukraine’s most pressing need right now?
Zelensky stressed that air defence systems are Ukraine’s top priority following a series of Russian strikes on civilian infrastructure. A drone strike on a shopping centre in Kryvyi Rih on Friday killed at least 16 people and wounded 130, illustrating the scale of the threat.
What happened in Kryvyi Rih on Friday?
Russian drone strikes hit a shopping centre and other facilities in the central Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih, killing at least 16 people and wounding 130 others, according to Ukrainian national news agency Ukrinform.
What other issues did Zelensky and Macron discuss?
Beyond air defence, the two leaders discussed diplomatic engagement with partner nations, communication with the US presidential team, and funding for Ukraine’s defence needs in 2025 and 2026. Both sides identified bilateral defence agreements that need to be accelerated.
What is the significance of France offering missile production licences?
Production licences would allow Ukraine to manufacture certain missiles domestically, reducing its dependence on partner stockpiles for resupply. This is a longer-term structural commitment that goes beyond a one-time delivery pledge.
