Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced on Monday that Ukraine has reached a landmark agreement with France to acquire 100 Rafale fighter jets, a significant expansion of Kyiv’s long-term air power as it continues to defend against Russia’s invasion.
Zelenskiy revealed the deal during a visit to Paris for talks with President Emmanuel Macron, saying on X that the agreement would deliver “a significant strengthening of our combat aviation, air defense, and other defense capabilities.”
The announcement comes as Russia intensifies drone and missile strikes across Ukraine and claims new ground advances in the southeastern Zaporizhzhia region.
The Rafale purchase forms part of a broader 10-year strategic aviation agreement, according to two people briefed on the discussions. Some aircraft may come directly from French stockpiles, while most would be delivered over time as Ukraine works toward its goal of building a 250-plane fleet comprising Rafales, U.S. F-16s, and Sweden’s Gripen jets.
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Operating the advanced multirole Dassault-built fighters will require extensive pilot training, meaning the jets will form a cornerstone of Ukraine’s long-term—not immediate—combat strength.
France has been exploring ways for several weeks to increase military support for Ukraine’s air defenses. But Paris faces rising political and budget pressures at home, raising questions about the scale and pace of new commitments.
President Macron said last month that France would provide additional Mirage fighter jets, supplementing an earlier pledge of six aircraft, along with a fresh supply of Aster 30 surface-to-air missiles for Ukraine’s SAMP/T air-defense batteries.
French officials said the overarching goal is to “put French excellence in the arms industry at the service of Ukraine’s defense” and help Kyiv acquire the systems required to counter Russia’s attacks.
Ahead of the signing, Zelenskiy was scheduled to attend a briefing with major French defense manufacturers—including Dassault—before formalizing letters of intent and related contracts later in the day.
Sources familiar with the talks told Reuters that Zelenskiy’s visit may also yield agreements for additional SAMP/T air-defense systems, either from existing French inventories or through next-generation long-term procurement, including missile and anti-drone technologies. The financial arrangements for these packages remain unclear.
A separate forum on Monday brings together French and Ukrainian drone manufacturers to identify areas of collaboration, reflecting Ukraine’s urgent need to expand both offensive and defensive drone capabilities.
France and Britain have been leading efforts to form a coalition of roughly 30 countries willing to station troops or provide security assets in Ukraine or along its western borders once a peace deal with Russia is reached.
The initiative aims to guarantee Ukraine’s long-term military and economic stability—and ensure it retains sufficient deterrence against any future Russian aggression.
