Ukraine and France formalize a shift from weapons deliveries to joint arms production and long-term defense collaboration, following a high-level visit by Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov and French counterpart Catherine Vautrin to Kyiv.

The two nations sign a letter of intent to launch large-scale, joint defence-industrial projects, with potential shipments discussed for Aster missiles, Mirage 2000s, and SAMP-T systems as part of a move toward co-production.

Meanwhile, Russian forces press near Pokrovsk in Donetsk, while Kyiv asserts control over the northern outskirts of Pokrovsk and defends nearby Myrnohrad.

In the meantime, Zelenskiy and Ukrainian officials highlight support for athletes and commemorations of war casualties, including a helmet bearing athletes’ images used by the flag bearer at the 2026 Olympics, a gesture Zelenskiy praised.

Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych faces an IOC ruling restricting wartime imagery on a helmet, drawing praise from Zelenskyy.

Russian FSB claims suspects in an attempted assassination of a top military intelligence officer confessed to following Ukrainian security service orders, a claim Ukraine denies.

Russian attacks damage Naftogaz production sites in Poltava and Sumy, marking the 20th energy infrastructure strike this year.

Ukraine unveils plans to export domestically produced weapons and opens 10 export centres across Europe in 2026, underscoring drones and wartime technologies as core revenue.

Ukraine seeks new deliveries and co-production for SAMP-T, Mistral and Crotale systems, with emphasis on drones and data sharing within the joint program.

The collaboration aims to accelerate aircraft deliveries and scale up production of AASM Hammer air-burst bombs, while continuing deliveries of SAMP-T, Mistral missiles, and Crotale systems.

The broader partnership envisions moving beyond simple deliveries to co-development and co-production, supported by the Brave1 France-Ukraine innovation cluster and exchanges of expertise.

France’s Ministry of the Armed Forces confirms joint development and production efforts, including collaboration through the Brave1 France-Ukraine cluster.