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France to manufacture drones in Ukraine following foreign minister's visit

France to manufacture drones in Ukraine following foreign minister's visit

Euractiv16 hours ago
French companies will begin manufacturing drones in Ukraine, officials announced on Monday following a meeting between French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv.
"We are ready to expand joint defens[c]e production," Zelenskyy posted on X. "There is a decision by French companies to begin manufacturing drones in Ukraine – and this is highly valuable," he added.
Barrot, in a separate post, confirmed the move: 'French drones will be built on Ukrainian soil.' He added: 'That's what sovereignty and strategic trust look like.'
The announcement came during Barrot's two-day visit to Kyiv, aimed at reaffirming France's continued support for Ukraine amid Russia's ongoing invasion.
Just hours earlier, Russia launched one of its largest assaults on Ukraine in recent months. The attack killed two people and wounded 15, including a 12-year-old, Zelenskyy said in a separate post.
In a statement following the meeting, Zelenskyy said the two also discussed broader defence cooperation, including air defence capabilities, training Ukrainian troops, and the outcomes of recent Ramstein-format meetings. Barrot is also expected to have separate meetings with his Ukrainian counterpart, Andriy Sybiga, and the new Prime Minister, Yulia Svyrydenko.
The visit coincided with a video meeting of defence ministers from the Ukraine Defence Contact Group (UDCG), where participating countries pledged to improve coordination and strengthen NATO-backed support for Kyiv, according to a NATO press release.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated that, as announced last week, he and US President Donald Trump would boost support for Ukraine by unlocking additional US defence assets that NATO allies can contribute to.
"We continue to work closely...including through the new initiative that enables Allies new access to purchase US equipment for Ukraine via NATO," Rutte posted on X.
The meeting was led by British Defense Secretary John Healey and his German counterpart Boris Pistorius. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe, Gen. Alexus Grynkewich also took part.
Ukraine's new Defence Minister Denys Shmyhal called on the US to release air defence systems for purchase and urged European allies to finance the procurement, under the plan proposed by Trump.
(aw)
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