Charles O Nelson

The outcome of my talks with Emmanuel and the work of our teams is an important agreement between Ukraine and France – a step that reflects France’s true leadership in defense cooperation with Ukraine, in the interest of all of Europe. The key points: Ukraine will receive licenses to produce very powerful weapons – SCALP missiles, AASM bombs, and Aster 30 missiles in cooperation with Italy. France will also work with us and with other partners on the FREYJA anti-ballistic program – our unique future strength. Ukraine will be the first to receive the new enhanced Franco-Italian SAMP/T NG systems. These are highly effective anti-ballistic systems. France will also provide two SAMP/T batteries to strengthen our defenses already this year. France and Italy will also accelerate deliveries of Aster 30 missiles by October this year. Additionally, Ukraine will procure the first 16 Rafale fighter jets for our combat aviation, along with their weapons package. Training for our pilots and maintenance crews in France is set to begin already this year. After that, the first four Rafale aircraft will be delivered to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. We are systematically developing Ukraine's combat capabilities. Thank you, Emmanuel! Thank you, France! Glory to Ukraine! @EmmanuelMacron

Результатом наших перемовин з Емманюелем та роботи наших команд є важлива домовленість між Україною і Францією, реально лідерський крок Франції в оборонній співпраці з Україною в інтересах всієї Європи. Ключове: Україна отримує ліцензії на виробництво дуже серйозної зброї – ракет SCALP, бомб AASM і спільно з Італією також ракет Aster 30. Франція співпрацюватиме з нами та іншими партнерами також і в рамках антибалістичної програми FREYJA – нашої особливої майбутньої сили. Україна першою отримає нові посилені французько-італійські системи SAMP/T NG. Це ефективні антибалістичні системи. Франція також надасть два комплекси SAMP/T для посилення нашого захисту вже у цьому році. Одночасно Франція та Італія прискорять поставки ракет Aster 30 до жовтня цього року. Відбудеться й закупівля перших 16 літаків Rafale для української бойової авіації та озброєння до них. Уже в цьому році має розпочатися навчання наших пілотів і механіків у Франції. Після цього чотири перші літаки Rafale будуть передані ЗСУ. Системно розвиваємо українські бойові спроможності. Дякую, Емманюелю! Дякую, Франціє! Слава Україні!

We took part in France’s military parade marking Bastille Day. Today, Ukrainian warriors also marched ceremonially down the Champs-Élysées, while our pilots flew Mirage fighter jets as part of joint French-Ukrainian crews. It is a great honor for us to be here. Emmanuel’s invitation to our defenders is a sign of respect and recognition of the strength of Ukraine, our people, and our Armed Forces. We thank our warriors. We thank France and all our partners who stand with Ukraine. 🇺🇦🇫🇷

Взяли участь у військовому параді Франції з нагоди Дня взяття Бастилії. Сьогодні Єлисейськими Полями урочисто пройшли й українські воїни, наші пілоти у складі французько-українських екіпажів пролетіли на винищувачах Mirage. Для нас велика честь – бути тут. І те, що Емманюель запросив наших захисників, – це знак поваги та визнання сили України, наших людей і наших Збройних Сил. Дякуємо нашим воїнам. Дякуємо Франції та всім партнерам, які стоять поруч з Україною. 🇺🇦🇫🇷

Our warriors continue imposing long-range sanctions on Russian enterprises and facilities fueling the war. An oil refinery was hit in Bashkortostan, approximately 1,300 kilometers from the front line. I thank the units of the Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the Security Service of Ukraine for their accuracy. In the Krasnodar region, warriors of the Unmanned Systems Forces, the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine, and the Security Service of Ukraine struck the Afipsky Oil Refinery, approximately 400 kilometers from the front line. Mid-range strikes have also delivered results. In Gelendzhik, a patrol ship and a shadow fleet tanker were hit – effective work by the Ukrainian Navy, approximately 430 kilometers from the front line. Successful strikes were also carried out against three shadow fleet tankers in the Sea of Azov. I thank all our warriors whose successful operations are bringing the war back to where it came from. This war must be brought to an end, and all reasonable diplomatic proposals are on the table.

Наші воїни продовжують накладати далекобійні санкції на російські підприємства і обʼєкти, що працюють на війну. У Башкортостані уражено нафтопереробний завод. Це близько 1300 кілометрів від лінії фронту. Дякую підрозділам ССО ЗСУ та СБУ за влучність. У Краснодарському регіоні воїни СБС, ГУР і СБУ завдали удару по Афіпському НПЗ. Відстань – близько 400 кілометрів від лінії фронту. Є результати і в мідлстрайках: у Геленджику уражено патрульний корабель і танкер тіньового флоту. Ефективна робота ВМС: близько 430 кілометрів від лінії фронту. Також були успішні відпрацювання по трьох танкерах тіньового флоту в Азовському морі. Дякую всім нашим воїнам, які успішними операціями повертають війну туди, звідки вона прийшла. Цю війну треба завершувати, і всі достойні дипломатичні пропозиції на столі.

Last night, the Russians launched 135 drones and 10 missiles of various types, most of them ballistic, against our cities and communities. Seven people were injured in the Kharkiv region, including a child. Ordinary residential buildings, a gas station, and railway infrastructure were damaged. Three people were injured in the Chernihiv region. The Russians damaged a residential building and power grid facilities, leaving thousands of families without electricity. Repair crews are now working to restore power to people as quickly as possible. An apartment building was also damaged in Zaporizhzhia. The Russians struck Kyiv with ballistic missiles. Sixteen sites were damaged in the capital, including an ordinary school and a business. Critical infrastructure in the Dnipro, Donetsk, Zhytomyr, and Odesa regions was also targeted. There must be greater pressure on Russia. We cannot mark time, and the EU’s 21st sanctions package should be adopted this week. Every day of delay in sanctions decisions gives Russia more time to prepare for them. Every component – chips, microchips, dual-use goods – everything Russia uses to prolong the war and attack people must be stopped. And our agreements with partners on European anti-ballistic capabilities are something that can truly enhance the security of our people. We must move forward together. Every company and every country must be a true defender of life. Our combined capabilities are sufficient, and together we can build reliable protection for Ukraine and all of Europe. Thank you to everyone who is helping.

Цієї ночі росіяни випустили по наших містах і громадах 135 дронів та 10 ракет різних типів, і більшість – балістика. Через удари на Харківщині поранено сімох людей, серед них дитина. Пошкодили звичайні житлові будинки, АЗС та інфраструктуру залізниці. На Чернігівщині поранено трьох людей. Росіяни пошкодили житловий будинок і об’єкти енергомережі, через це тисячі родин залишилися без світла. Зараз тривають ремонтні роботи, щоб якнайшвидше повернути людям електропостачання. Пошкоджено багатоквартирний будинок у Запоріжжі. Балістикою росіяни вдарили по Києву. У столиці пошкоджено 16 об’єктів, серед них звичайна школа та підприємство. Також били по критичній інфраструктурі на Дніпровщині, Донеччині, Житомирщині та Одещині. Тиску на Росію має бути більше. Не можна втрачати час, і вже на цьому тижні варто ухвалити 21-й санкційний пакет ЄС. Кожен день затримки санкційних рішень означає додатковий час для Росії, щоб підготуватись до санкцій. Всі компоненти – чипи, мікросхеми, товари подвійного призначення – все, чим Росія користується, щоб затягувати війну і бити по людях, має бути зупинено. І наші домовленості з партнерами щодо європейської антибалістики – це те, що дійсно може додати безпеки для наших людей. Треба рухатись разом – кожна компанія і кожна країна мають бути справжніми захисниками життя. Спільних спроможностей достатньо, і разом ми можемо побудувати дійсно надійний захист для України та всієї Європи. Дякую всім, хто допомагає.

Today, we also held a meeting of the Coalition of the Willing. We are not merely maintaining this format. Within the Coalition, we are moving toward the point when we will be able to say that peace is drawing closer. And it is precisely our cooperation here in Europe, together with the United States, the President of the United States, and everyone around the world who wants peace, that is bringing the end of the war closer. There were 40 participants today, with Moldova and North Macedonia joining the Coalition. Many participants noted today that, thanks to our warriors and our operations, the situation is now unique, and our entirely justified pressure on Russia is indeed significant. We need to exert even more pressure. There must be greater cooperation in Europe. Joint press conference with the co-chairs of the Coalition of the Willing. (3/3)

I thank France for its readiness to support Ukraine with additional air defense systems and missiles as early as this year. I also thank France for its readiness to provide licenses for ASTER and SCALP – this will be of great help. I thank the United Kingdom and Germany for their consistently tangible steps to help protect lives. There will be new defense packages for Ukraine. Thank you. Joint press conference with the co-chairs of the Coalition of the Willing. (2/3)

The reality in Ukraine right now is that sometimes we do not have the missiles needed to intercept ballistic missiles. That is why we launched a new Anti-Ballistic Missile Program that includes coordination across the political, governmental, and industrial dimensions and can deliver anti-ballistic weapons at scale: the system and the missiles for it. We named the program FREYJA, and today our Anti-Ballistic Missile Coalition held its first, inaugural meeting. Thank you, friends, for your support. It is important that European companies are also represented – specifically those that manufacture critical components for defense systems: Fire Point, Thales, Diehl Defence, Saab, Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, Weibel, Leonardo, Sener, MBDA, Eurosam, Safran, and Destinus. Each of us has important pieces. Ukraine has missiles, but they are only part of the system. Together, over the next 12 months, we can build this system at scale – FREYJA. Joint press conference with the co-chairs of the Coalition of the Willing. (1/3)

Here in France, we began today with the founding meeting of our anti-ballistic coalition. I hope that the FREYJA project will succeed and strengthen our anti-ballistic defense. I invite everyone who is interested and can add to our joint work to join us. We need to move as quickly as possible and do this work well. We can do it. This project is for the next 12 months, and we also need to protect lives here and now. We have strong European systems – SAMP/T, IRIS-T, and NASAMS. And of course, the most important systems today for protecting lives from Russian ballistic missiles are Patriots. We need air defense missiles – this is a daily need, and I ask you to focus on this support. At the Coalition of the Willing. (1/3)

President Trump and I have reached an important deal on licenses to produce Patriot systems. Our teams are now working to implement this truly historic political agreement. We worked toward this for a very long time. But we always stress one thing – the more diverse our defense is, the harder it will be for our enemies to undermine security in Europe. That is why we need to move faster on Patriots, and SAMP/T, IRIS-T, NASAMS, and, of course, our FREYJA project. I believe Europe can provide itself with enough protection against any ballistic threat. And Europe can also become a strong contributor to global security. At the Coalition of the Willing. (3/3)

We need to start preparing for next winter now. Of course, we are doing everything we can to push Russia toward diplomacy. And this is already the most difficult summer for Russia. Our long-range operations and mid-range strikes will continue. We will strengthen them. And one of the main ways to strengthen our overall position should be a winter package of air defense missiles. If we have enough protection for the winter, Russia will have far less reason to drag the war into the winter. We have calculated that this package should include 100 Patriot missiles per month – 300 missiles for the winter. Please consider this. At the Coalition of the Willing. (2/3)

The Coalition of the Willing. I thank every leader who stands with Ukraine and our people today. Everyone who understands that Russian aggression can be stopped only through collective pressure. And everyone who is ready to affirm this unity not only in words, but also through real decisions and assistance. There is no alternative to peace. And peace must prevail – thanks to our joint support and actions.

Коаліція охочих. Дякую кожному лідеру, хто сьогодні поруч з Україною та нашим народом. Усім, хто розуміє: лише спільним тиском можна зупинити російську агресію. І всім, хто готовий підтверджувати цю єдність не лише словами, а й реальними рішеннями та допомогою. Мир не має альтернативи. І він обов’язково має бути – завдяки нашій спільній підтримці та діям.

Europe needs more anti-ballistic defense. Together, we can build such a system. Ukraine is ready to deliver its part: the anti-ballistic missile. We are now finalizing it. It is important to confirm politically that FREYJA is our common project, in the interests of all of Europe.

Europeans themselves will be able to decide how many systems Europe needs and where they should be deployed. This would create a strategically new situation. Each European system will add its own strengths and give different parts of Europe a strategic foundation for protection.

I hope that within the next 12 months, we will see FREYJA up and running. The ballistic missile threat in the world will only grow. This is one of the key consequences of Russia’s and Iran’s wars. So FREYJA must become a reality. For the Anti-Ballistic Coalition meeting.

Strong and sufficient anti-ballistic capabilities are essential to bringing Russia’s war against Ukraine to an end. They are no less important than deep and mid-range strikes against Russia’s war economy or active operations on the front lines. The more means Ukraine has to shoot down Russian ballistic missiles, the greater the chance that Putin will come to the negotiating table, as his last argument in this war will no longer work. I am thankful to President @EmmanuelMacron for organizing and hosting the first meeting of the European Anti-Ballistic Coalition. I am also grateful to the NSAs and CEOs of the defense companies who came here today. Our work on a joint system – FREYJA – is not intended to replace existing systems. It is a way to supplement our defense, create a strong shield over the entirety of Europe, and do all of this faster and at a lower cost. I am grateful to all our partners who are helping Ukraine. Thank you!