This is reported by Kyiv24
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky held a phone conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron, during which the parties discussed current security issues and cooperation.
Support for Defense Capabilities and Air Defense
The focus of the negotiations was on strengthening Ukraine’s air defense. Zelensky emphasized the need for additional missiles for the SAMP/T and Crotale systems, and noted France’s readiness to assist in financing the production of various types of Ukrainian drones.
“We talked a lot about financing the production of all types of Ukrainian drones. France is ready to help us with this, and we will work together. We also discussed training Ukrainian pilots on Mirages. We greatly appreciate that France will continue their training, and thanks to this, we will be able to prepare even more additional pilots,” Zelensky noted.
Particular attention was given to training Ukrainian pilots on French Mirage aircraft, which will increase the number of trained specialists for the defense of the state.
Negotiations in Istanbul and Anti-Corruption Policy
During the conversation, Zelensky also informed Macron about the results of the third meeting with representatives of the Russian Federation in Istanbul. According to the president, the parties reached an agreement on a new prisoner exchange and are awaiting Russia’s response regarding the possibility of holding a high-level meeting by the end of August with the participation of European representatives.
Additionally, the presidents discussed Ukraine’s progress on the path to Eurointegration and the functioning of the anti-corruption infrastructure. Zelensky emphasized the importance of the presidential draft law that guarantees the independence and effectiveness of anti-corruption agencies and prevents Russian influence on their activities. He thanked France for its support and readiness for further cooperation.
In the context of international efforts to counter the aggression of the Russian Federation, EU ambassadors agreed on the 18th package of sanctions, which, in particular, lowers the price cap on Russian oil to $47.6 per barrel and imposes restrictions on operations involving the “Nord Stream” pipelines. Additionally, the sanctions target vessels from Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” that are attempting to circumvent EU restrictions.