Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy has touched down in Paris for today's Coalition of the Willing talks, bringing with him an anti-ballistic programme and presumably a very full schedule. In a brief update on X, he said the meeting “can open up significantly greater opportunities for Ukraine to strengthen its defenses.”
“Our top priority is anti-ballistic defence. We will present our Anti-Ballistic Programme to our partners and, for the first time, hold a meeting at the level of leaders, national security advisors, and defense companies from countries that can make a concrete contribution to building a new anti-ballistic system,” Zelenskyy announced. He also thanked France for its “historic support,” and noted that Ukrainian service members will take part in the Bastille Day parade - because nothing says “we appreciate your military aid” like marching in your national holiday.
The Ukrainian first lady, Olena Zelenska, will meet with the new director-general of UNESCO to discuss its work with Ukraine. Meanwhile, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen is also in Paris for the meeting, declaring, “Ukraine has built strong military momentum. The tide is turning. The EU is fully playing its part with our €90 billion Loan.” She added that they will discuss how to protect Ukraine's skies from Russian drones and ballistic missiles, because apparently the EU's loan comes with a side of air defense strategy.
Zelenskyy's visit follows an unexpected reshuffle in the Ukrainian government, with Yulia Svyrydenko stepping down as prime minister amid predictions she'll become Kyiv's ambassador to the US. Zelenskyy said Ukraine was “changing its political strategy,” which is diplomatic-speak for “we're moving the pieces around the board.”
Meanwhile, Russia has been forced to suspend shipping in the Sea of Azov after 90 vessels were targeted by Ukrainian drones in less than a week. Ukraine's drone forces chief, Robert Brovdi, boasted that his units had hit 10 tankers and four ferries overnight, as well as a major oil refinery in Syzran. “The technological humiliation of the [Russian] empire continues. It will fall because of Crimea,” Brovdi wrote on social media, adding that Moscow's shadow fleet is “noticeably shrinking” and can no longer use the Kerch Strait.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov dismissed the Coalition of the Willing as “a coalition of warmongers,” which is rich coming from the country currently waging a war. “These are the countries that are undertaking hostile actions against Russia, so we will be watching very closely,” he said. France and Germany have summoned the Russian ambassador over alleged cyber-attacks against EU countries, because nothing says diplomacy like calling someone in to yell at them.
The EU has issued new sanctions over “Russia's malicious cyber ecosystem,” targeting nine people and four entities, including GRU intelligence officers and cybercriminals. The UK also updated its sanctions, listing 24 individuals and entities behind “destructive and hybrid operations,” including an attempt to disrupt Poland's electricity grid last year - an attack that could have left 500,000 citizens without power in winter, which is either a cyber-operation or a really aggressive way to promote energy conservation.
French president Emmanuel Macron is hosting the Coalition of the Willing at the Hôtel des Invalides, just before Bastille Day, bringing together over 20 European leaders. A press conference with Macron, Zelenskyy, Germany's Friedrich Merz, and Britain's outgoing PM Keir Starmer is scheduled for the late afternoon. Building up to the meeting, France's foreign minister Jean-Noël Barrot said France will summon the Russian ambassador over an alleged cyberhacking campaign, because apparently the French have had enough of Russian hackers messing with their baguette supply chain.