Ukraine and France have reached an agreement to launch joint weapons production, the Ukrainian Defense Minister announced on Monday after a meeting with his French counterpart in Kiev.

Ukrainian Minister Mykhailo Fedorov announced that the two countries have signed an agreement, which paves the way for “large-scale joint projects in the defense industry sector.” He did not provide details on the types of weapons to be produced or the timeline for the start of production.

"We are moving from supplies to joint production and long-term solutions that systematically strengthen our defense," Fedorov wrote on the Telegram network, after meeting with French Armed Forces Minister Catherine Vautrin.

During the talks, the parties also discussed new deliveries of French weapons and military equipment to Ukraine. The focus was on Aster missiles, Mirage 2000 fighter jets, and SAMP-T air defense systems.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Ukraine plans to open up exports of domestically produced weapons as part of a strategy to exploit technological advances achieved during the war and secure new financial resources.