Recent deadly Russian attack waves on Ukrainian cities - especially the capital - have prompted France to announce it will be speeding up deliveries of anti-air defense missiles to the Ukrainian armed forces.
It also comes after after a call between French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky - which focused on the country's rapidly dwindling supplies of interceptor missiles.
Macron specifically referenced a Friday Russian drone attack on the city of Kryvyi Rih, which happens to be Zelensky's hometown.
Two Russian drones in succession hit the Sun Gallery shopping center in the city, resulting in a death toll of 16 people, with approximately 130 others wounded.
"I expressed our horror and our emotion to him," Macron said of the Zelensky call. "With these strikes and those this week against Kyiv, Russia is continuing and intensifying the crime of its aggression. By systematically targeting civilians, and by choosing intimidation and escalation, Russia is likely seeking to project strength but is above all revealing an admission of weakness."
Vowing to increase collective Western pressure on Moscow, Macron announced the following:
In this context, it is crucial to provide Ukraine with all the necessary means to defend its skies and thwart this aggression. I announced to President Zelensky the strengthening of our support, with the delivery of interceptors and the continuation of our cooperation in the wake of the launch meeting of the Anti-Missile Coalition held in Paris on July 13 last and the letter of intent signed on November 17, 2025. It is essential that all countries with capabilities at their disposal also join this effort.
Macron has also indicated that his country is leading the charge in seeking to develop European alternatives to the US Patriot missile system, given it is widely acknowledged that the Patriot is the only weapon currently possessed by Ukraine capable of downing high-speed ballistic missiles.
Members of Europe's 'Coalition of the Willing' are meeting again Monday:
French President Emmanuel Macron, U.K. Prime Minister Andy Burnham and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will co-chair a Coalition of the Willing meeting Monday aimed at strengthening support for Ukraine and increasing pressure on Russia.
European leaders are pledging further support to Kyiv, days after a Russian drone attack on a crowded shopping mall in Kryvyi Rih killed at least 16 people.
One former US official has given new insight into just how low Ukraine's Patriot supplies have dwindled.
Below: Russian drone strike hit shopping center in Kryvyi Rih days ago...
"Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy asked the U.S. for about 5 percent of its remaining Patriot inventory in a meeting with Mike Pence, the former vice president said Sunday," Politico reports. According to more of his comments:
If the U.S. could spare 5 percent of its missile defense system, Pence said Zelenskyy told him, then "he believes that would get them through the winter months."
Zelensky in early August had said Ukraine received only a third as many air-defense interceptors so far in 2026 compared to the same period in 2025.
"Our partners have the missiles. What is needed are the necessary political decisions on deliveries and on accelerating production, including localization in Ukraine," Zelenskyy said at the time.