Ukraine says it is in talks with France on licenses to produce SCALP missiles
The Facts
- Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said Ukraine is holding talks with France about obtaining licenses to produce SCALP cruise missiles.
- Fedorov said the issue was discussed during President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's visit to France in a conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron.
- According to Fedorov, negotiations are continuing with both the French government and the company involved in producing the missiles.
- Fedorov said there has been progress in the talks, but he also said it is too early to speak about concrete results.
- Fedorov said the talks involve unresolved issues including intellectual property, opening or setting up production, and other bureaucratic or legal details.
- The talks concern possible licensed production inside Ukraine, which would involve Ukraine's defense industry as well as French government and corporate approval.
Context
What exactly has Ukraine said it is seeking from France?
Fedorov said Ukraine is seeking licenses related to producing French SCALP cruise missiles in Ukraine, rather than announcing that production has already been approved or started Українська …,Європейська…,УКРІНФОРМ.
Who is involved in the negotiations?
Fedorov said the matter was discussed by Zelenskyy and Macron, and that follow-on talks are continuing with both the French government and the company tied to the missile program РБК-Украина,ZAXID.NET,УКРІНФОРМ.
What remains unresolved before any deal could move forward?
Fedorov said the process is complex and still requires work on intellectual property, production arrangements and bureaucratic details, which is why he said it is too early to announce concrete results Українська …,espreso.tv,LB.ua.
Where Left and Right agree, and where they split
- Where Left and Right agree
- Licensed missile production in Ukraine would require more than battlefield need, because government approvals, corporate consent, and unresolved legal terms still determine what becomes possible.
- Where Left and Right split
- Whether the story is about Ukraine building autonomy in its own defense industry, or about legitimate licensing and state approval setting the terms of any cooperation.
How left and right read it
What stands out here is the attempt to move from dependence toward domestic capacity: the talks are about possible licensed production inside Ukraine, involving its own defense industry rather than only outside supply. But the fact that intellectual property, production setup, and legal approvals remain unresolved is a reminder that in war, access to security still runs through governments and corporations that hold the power to say yes or no.
What matters here is that any move toward producing SCALP missiles in Ukraine would require formal licensing, government approval, corporate approval, and resolution of intellectual-property and legal questions. Even with progress reported, there are no concrete results yet, which underscores that serious defense cooperation still depends on rules, contracts, and orderly state-to-state negotiation rather than improvisation.
The receipts — all 46 sources
Independent coverage (46)
Facts first. Then every angle.
The day’s biggest stories in one short brief — the facts everyone agrees on, then the competing values behind the headlines. Free in your inbox.