France vows air defense for Ukraine

French president is working on European alternatives to US Patriot missile system and expresses ‘horror’ at deadly attack on shopping centre in Kryvyi Rih.

France is stepping up military support for Ukraine as President Emmanuel Macron announces additional interceptor missiles for Kyiv amid intensifying Russian missile and drone attacks.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held an almost two-hour conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron on 22 August, covering the acceleration of deliveries of the latest French equipment and missiles.

Ukraine's allies in the Coalition of the Willing – an initiative led by France and Britain – will meet on Monday, August 24, to look at how to ramp up pressure on Moscow to halt its invasion.