France will allow Ukraine to produce French-made cruise missiles and bombs

PARIS — France will allow Ukraine to produce French-made cruise missiles, precision-guided bombs and air defense interceptor missiles as part of a new defense cooperation agreement, President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday.

The announcement came after Ukraine ordered next-generation Franco-Italian air defense systems and Rafale fighter jets. Macron said the agreement with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy would implement a roadmap for bilateral defense cooperation that was agreed upon in principle last November.

"Earlier this afternoon President (Volodymyr) Zelenskiy and I agreed on a roadmap between our two countries, implementing what had been agreed in principle last November regarding our bilateral defense cooperation," Macron said at a news conference following a meeting with around 25 leaders in Paris.

The move marked the first time France has agreed to license weapons production to Ukraine, allowing Kyiv to expand its stockpiles as Russia continues to intensify attacks on the country.

The production agreement will cover AASM precision-guided air-to-ground bombs, Aster air defense interceptor missiles and SCALP long-range air-launched cruise missiles, which are also manufactured by Britain.

Macron said France would also provide radar systems to Ukraine. He added that Zelenskiy had ordered the delivery of next-generation SAMP/T air defense systems, which would follow previous deliveries of an older version and additional missiles.

France will also deliver 16 Rafale fighter jets to Ukraine, with the aircraft expected to be operational in Ukrainian skies by 2028-2029, Macron said.

The French president added that Ukraine's allies had agreed to begin military exercises in countries neighboring Ukraine as part of preparations for a multinational force that would be deployed after a ceasefire agreement with Russia is reached.

-Reporting by John Irish, Editing by Dominique Vidalon/Reuters