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France to ramp up Ukraine support, says Macron
France has promised to deliver new interceptor missiles to Ukraine, and the UK will help Kyiv produce its own long-range missiles, amid a surge in Russian strikes that has pushed civilian deaths to their highest since the first months of the invasion. The pledges come as Ukraine hosts a meeting of the Coalition of the Willing in Kyiv on its independence day.
France and UK pledge new air-defence support as Ukraine marks independence day
On the eve of Ukraine's independence day, French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced new military support for Kyiv, as Russia's intensified missile and drone attacks have driven civilian casualties to levels not seen since the early months of the 2022 invasion.
Macron, after a nearly two-hour phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday, promised to accelerate the delivery of new French equipment and missiles to Ukraine. Zelensky said on Telegram that they had agreed to speed up the supply of "the latest French equipment and missiles," and thanked Macron for confirming France's readiness to provide licenses for missile production. Macron also expressed his willingness to intercede with allies holding stocks of US-made Patriot interceptors, the only system in Ukraine's arsenal capable of downing high-speed ballistic missiles.
In a post on X, Macron wrote: "It is crucial to provide Ukraine with all the necessary means to defend its skies and thwart this aggression." He also conveyed his "horror and deep emotion" over a Russian drone strike on a crowded shopping centre in Kryvyi Rih that killed at least 16 people and wounded more than 100—some reports citing 130 wounded.
Burnham, making his first foreign visit as prime minister, is set to announce that the UK will allow the European defence company MBDA to declassify information about UK-made components of the Storm Shadow/SCALP missiles to help Ukraine build its own version. The UK will also help France set up assembly lines in Ukraine for long-range missiles. In a statement, Burnham said: "Russia should be in no doubt of our resolve. We will not back down until there is a just and lasting peace." He added: "On Ukraine's 35th anniversary of independence, the Ukrainian people should be in no doubt: the UK is behind you today and for as long as it takes."
Civilian toll and missile shortages
Russia has been pounding Kyiv with ballistic missiles in recent weeks, ripping open apartment blocks and killing dozens of citizens. The escalating strikes have pushed civilian deaths to their highest levels since the first months of the invasion, according to the United Nations. Officials reported at least 13 people killed in strikes overnight and through Saturday—seven in Ukraine, four in Russia and two in Russia-annexed Crimea.
Ukraine's reliance on advanced air-defence systems, chiefly US Patriot interceptors, has left it exposed amid global shortfalls since the US launched its war on Iran. Zelensky revealed that Ukraine received 675 Patriot interceptor missiles over all of 2023, 364 over all of 2025, and a projected 264 for 2026, and is seeking a package of at least 300 for the upcoming winter. He also said Russia could produce around 100 ballistic missiles a month.
Macron said France would advance the deployment of the new SAMP/T system and license Kyiv to manufacture interceptor missiles, SCALP cruise missiles and other munitions. Ukraine is also awaiting delivery of the Italo-French SAMP/T-NG system, not expected before next year.
Coalition meeting and diplomatic context
The Coalition of the Willing—an initiative led by France and Britain, originally designed as a group willing to deploy peacekeeping troops after a ceasefire—will meet in Kyiv on Monday, co-chaired by Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Burnham. Around 10 leaders, including European Council President António Costa, are expected to attend in person, while others, including Macron, will join remotely. The meeting is held symbolically on Ukraine's independence day, marking exactly four-and-a-half years since Russia's invasion.
The meeting aims to ramp up pressure on Moscow and combat the "shadow fleet" of vessels with opaque ownership used to evade oil sanctions. Diplomacy on ending the conflict is effectively frozen, with Russia demanding hardline territorial and political concessions that Kyiv has rejected as a capitulation. The US, which had brokered talks, is now focused on its war with Iran.
Russia has responded to Ukraine's long-range strikes on its energy and logistics sites, which Putin said had opened a "Pandora's box" of retaliation. Ukrainian drones have killed at least 10 people in attacks across Russia and occupied areas, including an Ozon warehouse. Officials reported additional casualties in Crimea and Luhansk.
Perspectives
France
President Macron emphasized the need to provide Ukraine with all necessary means to defend its skies, while also suggesting that by targeting civilians, Russia is revealing its weakness. He offered to intercede with allies holding Patriot stocks and promised accelerated deliveries and production licenses.
United Kingdom
Prime Minister Burnham framed the UK's support as unwavering, stating that the UK is "behind Ukraine today and for as long as it takes" and that "we will not back down until there is a just and lasting peace." He announced concrete steps to help Ukraine produce its own long-range missiles.
Russia
Russian officials denounced Ukrainian strikes as "vile and cynical" (according to Krasnodar Governor Veniamin Kondratyev) and warned that deeper UK involvement would increase the price Russia would exact. Putin said Ukraine's strikes had opened a "Pandora's box" of Russian retaliation.
How this outlet told it
Hindustan Times
Framing: Headline emphasizes escalation and depletion, focusing on both the gathering of backers and the critical shortage of air defence. — Serious and urgent, with quotes about resolve and a 'just and lasting peace'.
Facts Included:
Russia has been pounding Kyiv with ballistic missiles in recent weeks, ripping open apartment blocks and killing dozens of citizens in the capital.
Escalating Russian strikes have pushed civilian deaths to highest levels since first months of 2022 invasion.
After almost every attack, tens of thousands hunker in Kyiv metro system and basements; Zelensky has issued public pleas for more air-defence support.
Ukraine celebrates independence day on Monday, marking four-and-a-half years since Russia invaded on February 24, 2022.
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham statement: 'Russia should be in no doubt of our resolve. We will not back down until there is a just and lasting peace.'
Diplomacy on ending conflict is effectively frozen; Russia demanding concessions Kyiv rejected as capitulation.
Burnham set to announce UK authorising defence firm MBDA to release classified information to help Ukraine and France set up local production of long-range SCALP missile.
French President Macron pledged to deliver new interceptor missiles; quote on X: 'It is crucial to provide Ukraine with all the necessary means...'
Ballistic missiles are fast, high-arching, hard to stop; Kyiv's home-grown weapons cannot shoot them down, reliant on US Patriot interceptors.
Amid shortfalls since US launched its war on Iran, Ukraine left exposed.
Zelensky revealed undocumented figures: 675 Patriot interceptors in 2023, 364 in 2025, 264 projected for 2026; seeking at least 300 for upcoming winter.
US faces its own shortfall amid Iran war and resisted releasing large numbers to Ukraine.
Zelensky said Russia can produce around 100 ballistic missiles a month.
Ukraine accelerated long-range strikes on Russian energy/logistics, including oil refineries and retail warehouses.
Coalition of the Willing is Franco-British initiative, originally for peacekeeping troops, now a parallel forum for marshalling support due to US uncertainty under Donald Trump.
EU Council President Antonio Costa due in Kyiv.
UK PM's first international trip since entering 10 Downing Street.
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Claim
Confidence
Status
ClaimRussia has been pounding Kyiv with ballistic missiles in recent weeks, killing dozens of citizens in the capital.
ClaimAfter almost every attack, tens of thousands hunker in the Kyiv metro system and basements, and Zelensky has issued public pleas for more air-defence support.
ClaimUK Prime Minister Andy Burnham said in a statement: 'Russia should be in no doubt of our resolve. We will not back down until there is a just and lasting peace.'
ClaimDiplomacy on ending the conflict is effectively frozen; Russia is demanding hardline territorial and political concessions that Kyiv has rejected as capitulation.
ClaimBurnham is set to announce that the British government is authorising defence firm MBDA to release classified information needed to help Ukraine and France set up local production of the long-range SCALP missile.
ClaimFrench President Emmanuel Macron pledged to deliver new interceptor missiles to Ukraine, writing on X: 'It is crucial to provide Ukraine with all the necessary means to defend its skies and thwart this aggression.'
ClaimBallistic missiles are fast, high-arching, and difficult to stop; Kyiv's home-grown weapons cannot shoot them down, so Ukraine relies on US Patriot interceptors.
ClaimZelensky revealed that Ukraine received 675 Patriot interceptors in 2023, 364 in 2025, and 264 projected for 2026, and is seeking at least 300 for the upcoming winter.
ClaimUkraine has accelerated its own campaign of long-range strikes on Russian energy and logistics sites, including oil refineries and retail warehouses.
ClaimThe Coalition of the Willing is a Franco-British initiative, originally for peacekeeping troops, now a parallel forum for marshalling support due to US uncertainty under Donald Trump.
ClaimA Ukrainian drone strike on a house in southern Russia killed two children and wounded their parents, according to the head of the Krasnodar region.
ClaimRussia fired a ballistic missile towards Kyiv while German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul was visiting; two were killed and several wounded in the Boryspil district.
ClaimOzon reported fires early on Monday at its warehouses in Krasnodar and Makhachkala, both in southern Russia, and said sites in Adygeysk and Nevinnomyssk were evacuated due to threats of drone attack.
ClaimRussian authorities said two children were killed and nine other people were wounded when drone debris hit a private childcare centre in Krasnodar on Monday.
ClaimAt least two women were killed and five people wounded when a Russian drone hit an electric train in Ukraine's Kharkiv region on Sunday, regional officials said.
ClaimUkraine is critically short of equipment needed to deploy Patriot systems and is awaiting delivery of a new missile defence system developed by France and Italy, which is not expected to arrive before next year.
ClaimAfter a lengthy phone call with Macron on Saturday, Zelensky said the French president had indicated he was willing to intercede on Ukraine's behalf with allies who had stocks of Patriot interceptors.
ClaimRussia's so-called shadow fleet is a network of vessels with opaque ownership and insurance, used to evade oil sanctions imposed after its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
ClaimZelensky said he and Macron spoke for almost two hours on Saturday, and Macron expressed willingness to intercede with allies who had stocks of US-made Patriot interceptors.
ClaimRussia's Putin said on Saturday that Ukraine's strikes had opened a 'Pandora's box', adding that Moscow would hit back at Kyiv's most sensitive economic sectors.
ClaimUkraine is also awaiting delivery of the new Italo-French SAMP/T-NG missile defence system, which many experts say should be capable of downing ballistic missiles although it has not yet been battle-tested.
ClaimIn a statement on X, Macron said he had conveyed to Zelensky his 'horror and deep emotion' over a Russian drone strike on a crowded shopping centre in Kryvyi Rih on Friday, which killed at least 16 people and wounded 130.
ClaimMacron said he had agreed to strengthen French support for Ukraine, including through the delivery of interceptor missiles, in line with commitments made last month at the launch of an Integrated Anti-Ballistic Missile Coalition.
ClaimThe meeting in July, hosted by Macron in Paris, launched a grouping of 10 European countries to develop an anti-ballistic missile system as a cheaper alternative to the Patriot.
ClaimMacron said France would advance the deployment of the new SAMP/T system to Ukraine and license Kyiv to manufacture the interceptor missiles, as well as the SCALP long-range cruise missile and other munitions.
ClaimZelensky said he and Macron had on Saturday also discussed the status of peace talks and communications with Washington, and agreed on steps that could open up additional diplomatic opportunities.
ClaimMacron, British Prime Minister Andy Burnham and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz are due to co-chair a meeting of the Coalition of the Willing on Monday.
ClaimRussia's defence ministry said it had struck at trucks outfitted for transporting long-range drones near Kyiv, as well as targets linked to the Ukrainian army in the Odesa region.
ClaimThe Odesa region's governor Oleg Kiper said three people had been wounded, including a 16-year-old girl, in a 'prolonged and combined strike' that hit a house and grain silos.
ClaimUkrainian drones killed at least 10 people in attacks against targets across Russia and Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine, including a warehouse owned by online retailer Ozon and an industrial facility, Russian officials said on Saturday.
ClaimOn the Crimean peninsula, at least two people were killed and 10 injured when a Ukrainian drone struck a city bus, said the Moscow-backed governor of Sevastopol, Mikhail Razvozhayev.
ClaimIn Luhansk region, Moscow-installed governor Leonid Pasechnik said that two civilians, including a 16-year-old boy, had been killed and nine more were wounded.
ClaimZelensky said France has agreed to accelerate the delivery of equipment and missiles to Ukraine and will provide licenses for the production of relevant missiles.
ClaimRussia accused the UK of deliberately escalating the conflict by allowing Ukraine to launch attacks with British-made drones, warning that the deeper Britain's involvement, 'the higher the price it will pay'.
ClaimThis weekend it emerged that Russia had withdrawn its ambassador in London without naming a replacement, prompting speculation it was downgrading its diplomatic presence in the UK.
ClaimThe meeting of the Coalition of the Willing will be co-chaired by Burnham and Macron, who will join remotely via video link, and Friedrich Merz will also take part in the call.
ClaimZelenskyy is facing the most concerted internal political challenge of his presidency after the call for an election by his former defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov.
ClaimZelenskyy said in a briefing on Saturday that holding elections during the war risked splitting the country: 'Elections right now are a tsunami for the state that will split Ukraine.'
ClaimThe Ukrainian military has run out of US-made Patriot interceptors, and the US president, Donald Trump, recently backtracked on a promise to let Ukraine build its own.