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Ukraine Takes Its Anti-Ballistic Defense Push to France With Industry and Leaders at the Table
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![Photo of Vlad Litnarovych]( "Photo of Vlad Litnarovych")
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and First Lady Olena Zelenska arrived in France for a diplomatic visit centered on Ukraine’s proposed anti-ballistic defense system, talks with President Emmanuel Macron, and a meeting of the Coalition of the Willing.
Zelenskyy announced the visit on social media on July 13, saying the talks could create major new opportunities to strengthen Ukraine’s defenses.
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Zelenskyy said the talks in France could open “significantly greater opportunities” for strengthening Ukraine’s defenses, with anti-ballistic protection at the top of the agenda.
Ukraine will present its Anti-Ballistic Program to partners during a first-of-its-kind meeting involving national leaders, security advisers, and defense companies capable of contributing to a new missile defense system.
“Our top priority is anti-ballistic defense,” Zelenskyy said.
France. Today, important talks will take place here that can open up significantly greater opportunities for Ukraine to strengthen its defenses.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) July 13, 2026
Our top priority is anti-ballistic defense. We will present our Anti-Ballistic Program to our partners and, for the first time, hold a… pic.twitter.com/MH5znVB4Qz
He is also expected to meet French President Emmanuel Macron and participate in a Coalition of the Willing meeting, where Kyiv hopes to give the format “new momentum.”
First Lady Olena Zelenska will separately meet UNESCO’s new director-general to discuss expanding cooperation with Ukraine.
Zelenskyy also thanked France for its continued support and said Ukrainian service members would take part in the Bastille Day parade.
The proposed meeting will bring together political leaders, national security advisers, and defense companies capable of contributing technology, funding, and production capacity to a new system designed to counter ballistic missile threats.
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Ukraine has made anti-ballistic defense a growing priority as Russia continues using ballistic missiles against Ukrainian cities and critical infrastructure. Kyiv is seeking not only additional interceptors and existing air defense systems, but also a longer-term industrial solution involving partner countries.
Zelenskyy’s meeting with Macron is expected to focus on defense cooperation and further international support for Ukraine. He will also participate in a Coalition of the Willing meeting, where Ukraine hopes to give the format renewed momentum.
Meanwhile, Zelenska will meet with UNESCO’s new Director-General to discuss expanding cooperation with Ukraine across the organization’s areas of responsibility.
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Ukrainian service members will also participate in France’s Bastille Day parade, marking the country’s national holiday and highlighting the continuing defense partnership between Paris and Kyiv.
Previously, reports emerged that Ukraine was pursuing an industrial defense partnership with Japanese conglomerate Mitsubishi to leverage its expertise in manufacturing licensed Patriot air defense missiles.
In addition, Ukraine’s defense technology company Fire Point conducted a controlled flight test of its FP-7.X missile, which is being developed as the foundation for a future anti-ballistic interceptor known as FREYJA.
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-29a1a43aba23f9bb779a1ac8b98d2121.jpeg "Photo of Illia Kabachynskyi")
