French Defence Minister Sébastien Lecornu Arrives in Ukraine Capital

French Defence Minister Sébastien Lecornu has arrived in Kyiv, as reported by the French Embassy in Ukraine.

"The day began with a moving moment of remembrance at the Heroes' Wall," the statement reads.

According to the French publication Le Figaro, representatives from approximately twenty French defence industry companies accompanied the defence minister to discuss military assistance to Ukraine.

The French Ministry of Defence has stated that the list of participants will not be disclosed, but it varies from armoured vehicles to cyber systems and drones. Some French companies will deepen their contacts with their Ukrainian counterparts, while others will seek to establish contracts.

The trip was kept secret for security reasons. It is expected that the minister will meet with his Ukrainian counterparts, Rustem Umerov, Minister of Strategic Industries, and Alexander Kamishin, and possibly with President Volodymyr Zelensky.

The confrontation begins on the factory floors due to their ability to sustain military efforts, writes Le Figaro. To successfully repel the Russian invasion that began in February 2022, Ukraine needs to ensure the supply and maintenance of Western-made equipment, whether it be artillery, armoured vehicles, ammunition, or other resources.

"The winner of the war will be the one who can best mobilize their defence industry," quotes the publication, a high-ranking French officer.

Even if the conflict is "frozen," Ukraine's military needs in the medium term will not diminish. To support these efforts, a "paradigm shift" will be necessary, according to the French Ministry of Defence.

"We must prepare for the fact that the conflict will continue. The main thing is to make support for Ukraine long-lasting," say experts.

"After the logic of sales, it's time to shift to the logic of production. So, if the first 'Caesar' artillery howitzers delivered to Ukraine were taken from army depots, Nexter is now capable of fulfilling orders," explains the Defence Ministry.

Thanks to the establishment of the Ukraine Support Fund at the end of last year, which provided 200 million euros, Kyiv can place orders directly with French manufacturers.

Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that he would gather his foreign industrial supporters in Kyiv for the first Defence Industry Forum. Expecting "160 companies from 26 countries worldwide," they intend to join forces to "create a new arsenal for Ukraine."

It should be noted that today, the Defence Minister of the United Kingdom also arrived in Ukraine.