Paris summit backs Ukraine defence and Patriot production

Allies of Ukraine gathered in Paris on Monday, July 13, 2026, for a summit aimed at reaffirming military support for Kyiv and increasing pressure on Russia. The meeting of the "Coalition of the Willing," a group launched by France and the United Kingdom, brought together at least 25 heads of state, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The gathering, held the day before France's Bastille Day celebrations, focused on strengthening Ukraine's air and missile defenses and demonstrating sustained Western unity against Russian aggression.

The summit follows recent international meetings, including a NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, where members agreed on a comprehensive military aid package for Ukraine totaling 140 billion euros. In Paris, leaders concentrated on practical steps to address Ukraine's critical shortage of air defense munitions, which has left the country exposed to repeated Russian ballistic missile strikes. A French presidency official said the focus would be on anti-ballistic-missile cooperation, including sourcing more Patriot interceptors, advancing the deployment of the Franco-Italian SAMP/T system, and exploring European-Ukrainian joint production of...