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French President Emmanuel Macron speaks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the French Foreign Ministry in Paris on July 13 (local time). / Reuters-Yonhap

France has agreed to accelerate the delivery schedule for new military equipment to Ukraine, Reuters reported on the 22nd (local time).

President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Telegram, "I spoke with President Emmanuel Macron for about two hours, and we agreed to accelerate the supply of France's latest air defense equipment and missiles," adding that he thanked Macron for expressing willingness to provide a missile production license.

Zelensky also said Macron had expressed intent to mediate support for Ukraine by persuading allied countries that possess Patriot interceptor missiles.

Ukraine currently faces a shortage of Patriot interceptor missiles, which remain effectively the only means of intercepting Russia's high-speed ballistic missiles.

Ukraine is also awaiting delivery of the next-generation SAMP-T air defense system, a joint French-Italian system.

The SAMP-T system, based on Aster missiles produced by Eurosam, is considered capable of intercepting ballistic missiles, but has not yet been deployed in actual combat.

Diplomatic circles had originally projected that delivery would be unlikely before spring 2027, but Reuters reported that this latest agreement is expected to move that timeline up.

The exchange of attacks between Russia and Ukraine has also intensified. After Ukraine struck economic facilities inside Russia in response to Russia's escalating airstrikes, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned of retaliation, saying "Pandora's box has been opened."

Meanwhile, the French president, along with U.K. Prime Minister Andy Burnham and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, will co-host a meeting of the "Coalition of the Willing" — a group of countries supporting Ukraine — on the 24th.

The meeting, to be held both in person and online from Kyiv, Ukraine's capital, will also be attended by President Zelensky, who will discuss the direction of further diplomatic and military support.

                                                                                                        Lee Jeong-eun