"To reaffirm France's commitment to long-term cooperation with Ukraine within the 'coalition of volunteers,' the last meeting of which took place on October 24, 2025" - this is how the Élysée Palace outlined one of the goals of Vladimir Zelensky's visit to Paris.
The agenda includes a working lunch, preceded by a joint press conference. This is Vladimir Zelensky's ninth visit to France.
The talks will focus on strengthening ties between the defense industries of the two countries and addressing Kyiv's urgent needs in the face of ongoing airstrikes from Moscow.
Thanks to this meeting, the Élysée Palace hopes to "put French superiority in the arms industry at the service of Ukraine's defense" and "enable it to acquire the systems necessary to respond to Russian aggression."
On Saturday, Vladimir Zelensky once again urged allies to provide Ukraine with more air defense systems following particularly deadly Russian strikes on Kyiv.
"Ukraine needs support to save lives: more air defense systems, more capabilities for protection, and more determination from our partners. This is the only way to end Russian terror and guarantee Ukrainian families the fundamental right to safety in their own homes," Zelensky wrote on X.
A "major agreement" with France is being prepared
The meeting between Vladimir Zelensky and Emmanuel Macron will begin on Monday at the military airbase in Villacoublay, southwest of Paris.
The Ukrainian leader will be shown the French Rafale fighter jet, modern drones, and a new model of the SAMP-T air defense system, which has improved (compared to the previous version) missile interception capabilities.
"We are working on supplying several air defense systems to strengthen the air force," Vladimir Zelensky stated on Friday, claiming that "a major agreement with France is being prepared." "I am confident that it will be finalized very quickly; it will be historic," he added.
At the end of October, Emmanuel Macron announced the imminent supply of surface-to-air missiles for SAMP-T to Kyiv, as well as new Mirage 2000 fighter jets, three of which have already been delivered to Ukraine.
Meanwhile, last month, Vladimir Zelensky officially expressed his intention to acquire 100 to 150 Swedish Gripen fighter jets.
Coalition of the willing
On Monday afternoon, the presidents of the two countries will also participate in a Franco-Ukrainian drone forum at the Élysée Palace, aimed at "strengthening cooperation with all players in this ecosystem, from industry to finance."
Ukrainian drones are destroying up to 70% of Russian equipment on the front lines and are used to shoot down Shahed drones, which Moscow launches by the thousands to target civilian, military, and energy infrastructure.
Since the beginning of the war, Ukraine has created an extensive network for drone production - in undisclosed locations - and plans to use more than 4.5 million such drones this year.
Emmanuel Macron and Vladimir Zelensky will then head to Mont-Valérien, west of Paris, to visit the headquarters of the Multinational Forces in Ukraine.
Created by the "coalition of the willing," which, according to the Élysée Palace, includes 35 countries, this unit is intended to guarantee Ukraine's security in the event of a still highly hypothetical ceasefire scenario between Kyiv and Moscow.
The Élysée Palace claims that this headquarters is "operational" and already capable of "deploying forces the day after a ceasefire."
This coalition, consisting mainly of European countries, last convened in London on October 24. For several months, it has been preparing a series of "security guarantees," including support for the Ukrainian army and providing it with land, sea, and air resources.
