The defence agreement signed by the Ukrainian and French presidents on 17 November provides for an immediate and 10-year enhancement of bilateral cooperation, including the acquisition of critical capabilities in the near term: drones, drone interceptors, guided bombs, as well as production commitments by the end of the year and over the next three years, French leader Emmanuel Macron said.
“This-immediate deliveries and also giving the Ukrainian army predictability about the capabilities that are already unfolding. Next-acquisition of the new next-generation SAMP / T air defence systems, which are now in development. From 2026, a critical phase will be passed and a decision will be made to deploy them in Ukraine. These will be improved capabilities that are based on those you are already familiar with,” he said at a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Paris.
In addition, Macron said the deal includes the purchase of up to 100 Rafale fighter jets, France’s latest-generation aircraft with a full suite of weapons.
“This is-a completely new phase that opens up after the decision made a few months ago to transfer the Mirage 2000 and to train Ukrainian pilots. We are rolling out this commitment-exactly to acquire 100 Rafale fighters-along with the training and production programmes that must accompany them,” the French president said.
“On the day that peace is signed – in addition to what we do every day with our own forces and transferred abilities – Ukraine must be able to rebuild and modernise an army, in particular an air force that can deter any new aggression and defend its airspace. This is the goal of this agreement, which will unfold over several years,” he emphasised.
President Zelensky specified that Ukraine within the framework of the agreement, will be able to receive from France, in addition to 100 Rafale aircraft, eight SAMP – T air defence systems.
“In the Rafale programme we are considering the possibility, if technically we are ready, at some point of coproduction of these aircraft parts respectively. This is very important to us, as well as the coproduction of drones. And we will use the SAFE programme in this direction,” Zelensky said.
The Ukrainian President’s office specified earlier today that it is expected to purchase 100 Rafale F4 aircraft by 2035 for Ukraine’s combat aviation.
In addition, according to the report, Ukraine and France will jointly produce interceptor drones and work on the development of critical technologies and components that can be integrated into Ukrainian drones. Joint projects between the Ukrainian and French defence industries will start as early as this year, the OP said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and French President Emmanuel Macron today signed a declaration of intent on Ukraine’s acquisition of defence equipment.
The day before, Zelensky announced a “historic agreement” with France in an evening address. According to him, it will be a significant strengthening of combat aviation and Ukrainian defence capabilities.
Zelensky’s current visit to France is his ninth since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.