Ukraine has signed a letter of intent to potentially acquire as many as 100 Rafale fighter jets from France, according to statements from the Ukrainian Embassy and the office of French President Emmanuel Macron.
The document, signed Monday by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and President Macron, outlines Ukraine’s interest in purchasing French military hardware, including Rafale aircraft. Macron’s office confirmed the agreement but did not release additional specifics.
Zelenskyy’s trip to Paris—his ninth since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022—aims to bolster Ukraine’s defensive capabilities as the nation braces for another winter of Russian strikes on its energy grid and other critical infrastructure. On Monday morning, both leaders toured an air base on the outskirts of Paris before visiting the headquarters of a multinational coalition of more than 30 countries that France and the U.K. have been organizing to oversee any future cease-fire in Ukraine.
Posting on X on Sunday, Zelenskyy said he was anticipating a “historic agreement with France in Paris to reinforce our combat aviation and air defense.”
Macron emphasized the scale of Ukraine’s planned procurement: “We are expecting the Rafale—100 aircraft, which is significant but essential for rebuilding Ukraine’s military,” he said. He noted that France has recently deployed Mirage jets and is preparing to transition to the next generation of aircraft, calling the cooperation an important opportunity for both the Rafale program and Dassault.
Macron also highlighted new air-defense collaboration, including next-generation SAMP/T systems being developed for the French military. These systems are currently undergoing testing and are expected to be field-ready next year.
“We will deploy it rapidly in active operations,” Macron said. “This allows us to accelerate our progress and share the technology with Ukraine.”
In a separate development, Ukraine and Sweden last month signed an agreement to explore the purchase of up to 150 Gripen fighter jets over the coming decade. Ukraine has already incorporated U.S.-made F-16s and French Mirage aircraft into its air fleet.
