In the face of Putin's "Pandora's box" - Macron responds with a dramatic step

French President Emmanuel Macron promised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to accelerate missile deliveries and air defense systems, against the backdrop of Russian President Vladimir Putin's threats to strike Ukraine's "most sensitive sectors." The conversation focused on Ukraine's shortage of Patriot interceptors, and Macron expressed willingness to intervene with Western allies. It was also agreed to accelerate the supply of the SAMP/T-NG defense system.

French President Emmanuel Macron responded with a dramatic step to the threats of Russian President Vladimir Putin, promising Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to significantly accelerate military aid. According to a Reuters report, the conversation between the two focused on Ukraine's acute shortage of US-made Patriot interceptors, the only weapon in Ukraine's arsenal capable of intercepting Russian ballistic missiles. Macron expressed willingness to personally intervene with other Western allies that hold stocks of these interceptors. It was also agreed to accelerate the timelines for supplying the new SAMP/T-NG defense system, an Italian-French development that was not expected to arrive until next spring. Zelensky noted that agreement was reached on granting licenses for missile production, including long-range cruise missiles of the SCALP type. On the humanitarian front, Macron issued an official statement expressing "shock and deep emotion" following a deadly Russian drone attack on a shopping center in Kryvyi Rih last Friday, in which at least 16 people were killed and about 130 wounded. Macron taunted Putin, stating that Russia is exposing its weakness through systematic harm to civilians.