Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, during a meeting with French Minister of the Armed Forces Sebastien Lecornu in Paris, discussed strengthening defense cooperation and coordinating efforts to counter Russian aggression.

As Umerov said on Facebook, together with the Ukrainian delegation, represented by the Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Major General Volodymyr Horbatiuk, the Chief of the Main Logistics Department of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Lieutenant General Mykola Shevtsov, and the Deputy Minister of Defense for European Integration, Oleksandr Balanutsa, we discussed a number of important issues.

“The main focus of our dialogue was on strengthening defense cooperation and coordinating efforts to counter russian aggression. Major General Horbatiuk provided a detailed briefing on the current operational situation on the battlefield, and Lieutenant General Shevtsov outlined the critical needs for strengthening our soldiers,” Umerov said.

He stressed that air defense systems and missiles for them remain a priority for Ukraine.

“We have to resolutely respond to these terrorist acts; therefore, it is especially important to expand Ukraine's long-range capabilities,” he stated.

“Other critical priorities include combat aircraft, electronic warfare, unmanned aerial vehicles, artillery, and ammunition,” Umerov said.

Separately, the ministers paid attention to the development of cooperation between the Ukrainian and French defense industries, the creation of joint ventures and co-financing of production were discussed. “We have specific projects, an action plan, and deadlines. Our teams are already actively working on it. I am grateful to France for its constant support of Ukraine and joint work to save human lives and bring a just peace closer,” Umerov informed.

In turn, Lecornu stressed after the meeting that France firmly supports Ukraine in order to give it the opportunity to defend itself from Russian aggression.

"Together with my colleague Rustem Umerov, today in Paris we are discussing developments at the front and further support for Ukraine from France," Lecornu wrote on the social network X.