Ukraine to produce French missiles and orders war planes, Macron says
French president Emmanuel Macron said on Monday that France would allow Ukraine to produce French-made cruise missiles, precision guided bombs and air defence interceptor missiles after Kyiv ordered next generation Franco-Italian air defence systems and Rafale fighter jets.
“Earlier this afternoon president (Volodymyr) Zelensky and I agreed on a roadmap between our two countries, implementing what had been agreed in principle last November regarding our bilateral defence cooperation,” Macron said at a news conference following a meeting of some 25 leaders in Paris.
Macron’s announcement marked the first time France has agreed to licence production to Ukraine, a move that would enable it to ramp up stocks at a time when Russia is intensifying strikes on the country.
The production centres around AASM precision-guided air-to-ground bombs, Aster air-defence interceptor missiles and SCALP, long-range air-launched cruise missiles, which Britain also produces. Macron said radar systems were also being ceded to Ukraine.
He said Zelensky had also ordered the delivery of next generation SAMP-T air defence systems, which would follow deliveries of the older version and a batch of missiles.
At least 16 Rafale warplanes would also be delivered with a view to operating in Ukraine’s skies by 2028-2029, Macron said.
Macron also said Ukraine’s allies had agreed to begin military exercises in countries neighbouring Ukraine as part of a plan for a multinational force that would deploy once there is a ceasefire with Russia.
Alex Croft14 July 2026 18:02
Europe unites in Paris for Bastille Day in show of military strength to Putin and Trump
Paris is hosting a Bastille Day celebration on Tuesday that transcends France’s national borders, with troops and warplanes from across Europe participating.
This year’s grand parade aims to showcase unwavering support for Ukraine and highlight the continent’s collective military strength.
President Emmanuel Macron, presiding over his last Bastille Day as president, is welcoming around 30 international leaders.
The gathering is intended to convey a strong message to both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump, affirming Europe’s unity and its resolve to defend itself. Among the dignitaries greeted by Mr Macron’s wife, Brigitte, was European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Alex Croft14 July 2026 17:00
Ukraine and allies vow to protect Europe from ballistic missiles
Ukraine and nine other countries announced have said they were forming a coalition to protect Europe from ballistic missiles, utilising Kyiv’s experience in fighting Russia’s full-scale invasion for over four years.
“Our goal is to build a shared ballistic missile defense capability for Europe,” the 10 nations said in a statement in Paris at talks with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky.
Zelensky and the leaders of Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom said they recognised “the growing threat posed by ballistic missiles,” which are harder to stop than cruise missiles or drones.
“We believe that protecting Europe requires a comprehensive solution, in the form of an integrated missile defense architecture, to deter and neutralise future missile threats,” the statement said.
“We recognise Ukraine’s unique experience, gained through its defence against the war of aggression waged by Russia.”
The statement gave no time frame for setting up the defense system and said the plan remained open to other countries.
Alex Croft14 July 2026 16:31
Ukraine says it struck 12 ships in Russia’s ‘shadow fleet’ – ICYMIUkraine says it struck 12 ships in Russia’s ‘shadow fleet’
Alex Croft14 July 2026 16:00
Russia accuses Ukraine of terrorism over Sea of Azov attacks
Russia has accused Ukraine of terrorism over its escalating attacks on shipping in the Sea of Azov, a route that handles about a quarter of its grain exports.
“What the Ukrainian regime is doing goes beyond even piracy. Pirates, at least, plunder and keep the spoils for themselves,” Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said.
“But here, it benefits neither them nor anyone else – the goal is simply to cause damage and intimidate. It is terrorism, pure and simple,” Lavrov said.
Ukrainian drones hit 11 Russian vessels in the Sea of Azov overnight, Kyiv’s drone forces commander said.
In a statement on Telegram, Robert Brovdi said the targets included five tankers, five dry cargo vessels and a tugboat, bringing the total number of vessels struck in the past nine days to 116.
Drone footage shows fire and smoke rising from, what the Rostov region Governor said, was an empty oil tanker, following Ukraine’s overnight drone attacks on Russia (Reuters)
Alex Croft14 July 2026 15:30
Ukraine says it hit 105 Russian vessels in 8 days
Ukrainian forces struck 105 Russian vessels in the Sea of Azov next to the Crimean Peninsula between 6 July to 13 July, said Robert Brovdi, commander of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces.
The vessels included tankers, dry cargo ships, a ferry and tugboats, Brovdi said on the Telegram messaging app.
The campaign is part of a broader Ukrainian effort to isolate the Crimean Peninsula, which is enduring its worst fuel crisis since it was illegally annexed by Moscow in 2014, and disrupt Russian logistics.
Crimea is a key rear base for Russian forces occupying parts of southern Ukraine.
(Reuters)
Alex Croft14 July 2026 15:00
In pictures: Russia attacks civilian ship near Odesa, says Kyiv
A civilian vessel is on fire, as Ukraine’s navy spokesman reported a Russian military strike on a civilian vessel (Reuters)
No casualties were reported (Reuters)
The incident took place near the Ukrainian port of Odesa (Reuters)
Alex Croft14 July 2026 14:44
Ukrainian parliament accepts resignation of PM Svyrydenko
Ukraine’s parliament accepted on Monday the resignation of prime minister Yulia Svyrydenko.
The move passed with 258 lawmakers voting in favor, with 226 needed for a majority.
President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Sunday that he planned to replace Svyrydenko after only a year in office, as he reshuffles his government.
Earlier, Taras Kachka, Ukraine’s deputy prime minister for European integration, said the change of Ukraine’s government will not impact the country’s European Union integration.
“This is an unconditional priority for Ukrainian government so that the negotiations will go, and as well as a reform process,” Kachka said in Brussels ahead of the formal opening of a second area of accession negotiations with Ukraine, covering external relations.
Alex Croft14 July 2026 14:29
Kremlin: There can be no Ukraine security guarantees without our involvement
The Kremlin said on Tuesday that there could be no security guarantees for Ukraine without Russia’s involvement.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov also touched on Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s stance in support of Ukraine’s territorial integrity
This stance is mistaken, Peskov said, adding that Azerbaijan is not the only country with which Russia maintains close relations and whose position on a number of issues differs from Russia’s.
Alex Croft14 July 2026 14:01
Putin ‘will never make peace in Ukraine’ – Here’s the reason why
Vladimir Putin’s growing unpopularity in Russia means he cannot afford to end the war with Ukraine, as he will be lynched by his own people, one of the president’s greatest personal enemy in the West has warned.
Sir Bill Browder told The Independent’s World of Trouble podcast: “If he does a peace deal, he’ll lose power. If he loses power, then he’ll get strung up from a lamp post.”
The anti-corruption campaigner, who once ran the biggest investment fund in Russia, has fought against Putin for nearly two decades.
His latest intervention comes days after Nato leaders met in Turkey and agreed to allow Kyiv to produce its own Patriot air defence missiles, vital in withstanding the onslaught from Moscow.
Putin has variously claimed that he ordered the invasion of Ukraine in 2014 to see off a potential threat of Nato membership for Kyiv, to save Russian-speaking peoples in the east of the country, or as part of a patriotic duty to return Ukraine to Russia’s empire.
The Independent’s world affairs editor Sam Kiley writes:
Alex Croft14 July 2026 13:30