Sébastien Lecornu

PARIS - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic met with French Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu in Paris on Tuesday.

France has announced plans to expedite the production and delivery of essential military equipment to support Ukrainian forces. The French government's decision comes amidst escalating tensions in the region, with efforts focused on bolstering Ukraine's defense capabilities in the face of continued Russian aggression.

During a rally in North Carolina, US President Joe Biden condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin as a "butcher," asserting that the United States has the capacity to shield Ukraine from Russian aggression.

Ukraine's Western allies will launch an "artillery coalition" at a Paris ceremony Thursday, aiming to strengthen Kiev's armed forces against Russia's military.

Led by France and the United States, the 23-nation effort is part of the so-called Ramstein contact group, which gathers more than 50 countries supporting Ukraine.