By Alperen Aktas
ISTANBUL (AA) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met Saturday with French Minister of the Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs Catherine Vautrin in Ukraine to discuss accelerating military assistance, including air defense systems and combat aircraft deliveries, amid continued Russian attacks.
The talks focused on strengthening Ukraine’s air defense with additional systems and missiles, as well as expanding aviation capabilities through French-made aircraft.
Zelenskyy said Ukraine highly values support from French President Emmanuel Macron, the government and the French people since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in early 2022.
Zelenskyy briefed Vautrin on the effect of a Russian strike that occurred overnight and outlined measures needed to boost protection and resilience. He stressed the importance of supplying SAMP/T systems and French Mirage aircraft as Russia continues massive aerial attacks.
“Mirage aircraft are already integrated into Ukraine’s air defense system, intercepting the ‘shaheds’ that Russia uses daily. We rely on continued support in this area,” said Zelenskyy. He added that an agreement on Ukraine’s future modern aviation would allow the acquisition of Rafale aircraft and that Kyiv is counting on a new generation of SAMP/T systems.
The Ukrainian leader underlined that faster delivery of air defense assets would significantly enhance the protection of the country’s airspace. He also said Ukraine seeks to rapidly implement joint projects with France under European initiatives, particularly SAFE – an EU program that allows member states to buy weapons and ammunition for Ukraine from the Ukrainian defense industry.
Vautrin reaffirmed France’s continued support, citing close cooperation with Ukraine’s Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, including radar modernization and collaboration on drone production.
“France will honor its commitments regarding Rafale. As for the deliveries, they will be carried out as planned under the SAFE instrument,” she said, adding that Paris would continue working to involve the European defense-industrial complex to strengthen capabilities and sovereignty.
The meeting also addressed sanctions against Russia. Zelenskyy welcomed France’s move to detain a tanker from Russia’s shadow fleet and called on other countries to join similar efforts and introduce legislative changes to fully block Russian tankers.