Ukraine’s Deputy Minister of Defence Sergiy Boyev discusses strengthening Ukraine’s air defence and UAV production with France’s Minister Delegate for the Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs

Deputy Defence Minister of Ukraine Sergiy Boyev held talks with Alice Rufo, Minister Delegate to the Minister of the Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs of France, during her working visit to Kyiv.

At the outset, the Ukrainian delegation expressed gratitude to France for the military, humanitarian, financial, and political assistance provided. Sergiy Boyev emphasised the importance of the visit given the challenging security situation in Kyiv and throughout Ukraine.

Alice Rufo, for her part, emphasised her readiness to deepen cooperation across a number of areas and to make France’s support for Ukraine even more effective.

A representative of Ukraine’s intelligence briefed the French delegation on the operational situation at the front and russia’s plans to mobilise the population and ramp up weapons production.

“There are no indications that russia plans to cease hostilities. Ukraine requires partner support in 2026 more than ever. Our primary focus is air defence: our cities must be protected,” Sergiy Boyev stated.

The French side expressed its readiness to increase sanctions pressure in order to limit the supply of critically important components for the production of russian missiles.

Among the most important topics were cooperation on air defence, the replenishment of Ukraine’s stocks of critically important missiles, and the involvement of additional partner countries to address this requirement. Countering enemy ballistic missiles remains one of the most serious challenges.

The Ukrainian and French delegations also discussed cooperation under the SAFE programme and the potential for new industrial projects. France has expressed interest in Ukraine’s experience in the UAV domain and is committed to developing joint production.