France to Supply Fighter Jets and Missiles to Ukraine as NATO Warns "Putin's Power Is Running Out"
France is stepping up its military support for Ukraine. The French government announced plans to deliver Mirage 2000 fighter jets and Aster air-defense missiles to Kyiv in the coming days.
France is stepping up its military support for Ukraine. The French government announced plans to deliver Mirage 2000 fighter jets and Aster air-defense missiles to Kyiv in the coming days.
During a virtual address at the “Coalition of the Willing” meeting held in London on Friday, French President Emmanuel Macron called for continued military assistance to Ukraine and for strengthening its air-defense capabilities. Speaking directly to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Macron said, “In the coming days, we will launch new training programs and deliver additional Aster missiles and Mirage 2000 fighter jets.”
Commenting on the meeting, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte expressed satisfaction with the allies’ efforts to increase their support for Ukraine. “Putin’s financial resources, military power, and strategic ideas are running out. Now is the time to intensify pressure on Russia,” Rutte said.
According to Rutte, Russia’s progress on the battlefield remains very limited, and even these minor gains are coming at a high cost to Moscow. He added that the new U.S. sanctions on Russia’s major oil companies would significantly cut the Kremlin’s revenues and increase pressure on President Vladimir Putin to come to the negotiating table.
Rutte also addressed Ukraine’s request for U.S.-made Tomahawk missiles, saying that U.S. President Donald Trump had stated the issue was still under review.
On the ground, Russia launched a new missile and drone attack on the Ukrainian capital Kyiv early Saturday morning, injuring eight people and damaging several residential and public buildings, according to local authorities.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko wrote on Telegram, “Explosions in the capital — the city is under ballistic attack,” adding in a later post that “eight people have been injured” and “large fires” had broken out in the Desnyansky and Darnytsky districts.
Since February 24, 2022, Russia has been waging war against its neighbor Ukraine, demanding that Kyiv abandon its ambitions to join Western military alliances — a condition Ukraine considers a violation of its sovereignty.
On the front lines, Russian forces have made limited advances in eastern and southern Ukraine over the past year, while Ukrainian troops continue to struggle with shortages of personnel and equipment.
As Rutte put it:
“Putin’s money, soldiers, and ideas are running out — now is the time to increase the pressure on Russia.”