Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
In a historic move aimed at strengthening Ukraine’s defense capabilities, French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a “letter of intent” on Monday in Paris, paving the way for Kyiv to acquire up to 100 French Rafale fighter jets, along with next-generation air defense systems. The agreement, unprecedented in scale for Ukraine, marks a major step in the European country’s ongoing efforts to modernize its military amid Russia’s intensified attacks.
The announcement came during a joint press conference at the Élysée Palace, where both leaders emphasized the long-term nature of the agreement. According to the French presidency, the accord is designed “over a horizon of nearly ten years,” opening the door for Ukraine to purchase a broad range of French defense equipment. In addition to the Rafale aircraft and their associated weapons systems, Ukraine would have access to the SAMP-T air defense system, currently under development, as well as radar technology and drones.
Zelensky described the agreement on social media as “historic,” highlighting its significance in enhancing Ukraine’s combat aviation, air defense, and other critical defense capabilities. The French government framed the deal as a way to “place French defense industry excellence at the service of Ukraine’s defense,” particularly in safeguarding its airspace against Russian aggression.
The agreement coincides with Zelensky’s European tour aimed at securing military support from Western allies. Prior to visiting France, the Ukrainian president finalized an energy deal with Greece and planned to continue his tour in Spain. This visit marks Zelensky’s ninth trip to France since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
This Rafale deal follows a similar move last month, when Ukraine signed a letter of intent to acquire between 100 and 150 Swedish Gripen fighter jets. Ukraine’s current air defense capabilities include the existing SAMP-T systems, capable of intercepting fighter jets, cruise missiles, and tactical ballistic missiles. The next-generation SAMP-T systems, expected to be operational by 2027, will have significantly expanded missile interception capabilities.
In addition to the agreements on fighter jets, Macron confirmed that Kyiv would soon receive Aster anti-aircraft missiles launched from SAMP-T systems and additional Mirage 2000 fighter jets. Ukraine has already received three of six promised aircraft.
The leaders also attended a French-Ukrainian drone forum at the Élysée, aiming to strengthen cooperation with industrial and financial partners in the unmanned systems sector. Ukraine plans to deploy more than 4.5 million drones this year, which have reportedly accounted for 70% of the damage inflicted on enemy equipment at the front. Ukrainian drones are also used nightly to counter Russian Shahed drones targeting Ukrainian positions.
Following the forum, Macron and Zelensky visited Mont Valérien, west of Paris, to tour the headquarters of the “Multinational Force for Ukraine,” a joint initiative led by France and the United Kingdom. The force, which involves 35 participating countries including Ukraine, is designed to be deployable immediately in the event of a ceasefire, providing security guarantees for Kyiv.
Zelensky’s visit comes at a sensitive time for Ukraine, which is dealing with a domestic corruption scandal that led to the resignation of two ministers and prompted the president to impose sanctions on a close ally. Despite these challenges, the agreements in Paris underscore Ukraine’s determination to bolster its military capabilities and secure support from Western partners amid ongoing Russian hostilities.
