France-Ukraine arms deal: Paris to supply 100 Rafale jets to Kyiv - what the 'historic agreement' means

France and Ukraine signed a major defence agreement on Monday that could allow Kyiv to buy up to 100 Rafalefighter jets, along with drones, radar systems and new air-defence technology.

The deal was signed in Paris by French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during the latter's visit to France.




Macron said that Rafale jets, the top aircraft in France’s fleet would only be delivered over the next 10 years. But he said work on producing drones and interceptors for Ukraine would begin before the end of this year.

Zelenskyy arrived in France at a difficult time for Ukraine. The country is dealing with a corruption scandal, Russian forces are moving closer to the city of Pokrovsk, and Moscow is continuing heavy air attacks. Macron said this stage of the war, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, was a “difficult moment”.

He added, “Russia alone is making the choice to continue this war and to intensify it,” and accused Moscow of having an “addiction for war”.

Macron said he hoped “peace will be obtained before 2027”, when his term ends. But he said Ukraine’s military would still need to be rebuilt so it can be “capable of dissuading any new incursion” from Russia.

The French presidency said the agreement includes possible future contracts for 100 Rafale jets “with their associated weapons”, and also mentions the development of new SAMP-T air-defence systems, radars and drones. Zelenskyy called it “a historic agreement”.

Ukraine has already signed a separate letter of intent to buy 100 to 150 Swedish Gripen jets. France has sent Mirage jets in the past, but Rafales have never been promised before.

No financial details were released. France plans to use part of its own budget and also rely on joint EU borrowing tools to help fund the deal, even though this could face pushback from Germany.

This was Zelenskyy’s ninth visit to France since the war began. It comes ahead of what many expect to be a difficult winter for Ukraine. Overnight, Russian strikes killed three people in a city in eastern Kharkiv region, officials said. On Friday, seven people died after Russia hit apartment buildings in Kyiv. Russia’s defence ministry also said its troops had taken three more villages in eastern Ukraine.

Peace efforts led by US President Donald Trump have gone nowhere, with Moscow refusing to call a ceasefire or ease its territorial demands. Speaking about the Rafale jets, Macron said they would only arrive after the war, adding, “There will be no robust, lasting peace if there is not a strong Ukrainian army.”

At home, Zelenskyy has ordered major changes in state-owned energy companies after a corruption case. He told two ministers to resign and imposed sanctions on a former business partner accused of running the scheme. Macron said Ukraine’s goal of joining the EU requires “demanding and deep efforts and reforms notably on governance and fight against corruption”, and said he had “confidence” in Ukrainians and in Zelensky. Asked whether Ukraine had done enough to tackle corruption, Zelensky said, “It is not enough. We will continue the appropriate actions.”

The two leaders also visited Mont Valerien, west of Paris, where France and Britain are preparing the headquarters for a future international force that could be deployed in Ukraine after any ceasefire.