French leader Emmanuel Macron vowed to accelerate delivery of new air interceptor missiles to Kyiv following devastating Russian attacks on a Ukrainian city and a call with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy."I spoke with President Zelenskyy in the aftermath of the double Russian strike in broad daylight against a shopping center in Kryviy Rih, which caused numerous civilian casualties, and I expressed our horror and deep sorrow," Macron wrote on Twitter.Macron said he assured Zelenskyy of "the strengthening of our support with the deployment of interceptors...It is essential that all countries with available capabilities also join this effort. We must also continue to increase pressure on Russia as long as it chooses to refuse a ceasefire and peace."
Macron, in his X posting on August 22, also said Ukrainian allies in the so-called Coalition of the Willing -- an initiative led by Paris and London -- will meet on August 24 to explore ways to ramp up pressure on Moscow to halt its full-invasion of Ukraine that began in February 2022 and has cost tens of thousands of lives on both sides.British Prime Minister Andy Burnham and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz are set to host the coalition meeting, which will be held in Kyiv, with leaders attending in person and remotely. Macron's office did not specify which leaders will be there in person.Defense Against Ballistic MissilesWithout providing details, Macron said the accelerated delivery of interceptor missiles is in line with commitments made in July at the launch of an Integrated Anti-Ballistic Missile Coalition.In that Paris meeting, a grouping of 10 European countries agreed to develop an anti-ballistic missile system as a cheaper alternative to the US-made Patriot air defense system. The Patriot is the only weapon Kyiv holds that is capable of downing high-speed ballistic missiles used by Russia against Ukrainian cities.Macron said Paris would advance the deployment of the new SAMP/T system to Ukraine and license Kyiv to manufacture the interceptor missiles, as well as the SCALP long-range cruise missile and other weapons.Following the two-hour phone call, Zelenskyy said he and Macron also discussed the status of peace talks and contacts with the US. Attempts by US President Donald Trump to bring about a peace deal between Moscow and Kyiv have so far proved unsuccessful."We agreed on steps that could open up additional diplomatic opportunities," Zelenskyy said.Rescue Operations In Kryviy RihAs the two spoke, Ukrainian search-and-rescue operations continued at the site of a devastating Russian drone attack on a shopping mall in the Ukrainian city of Kryviy Rih, as Russia continues to launch strikes across Ukraine.Two Russian jet-powered drones struck the largest shopping mall in the south-central city on the afternoon on August 21, as many residents were out shopping at the end of the work week.
