France Ready to Arm Ukraine “For the Long Haul” with Jets, Air-Defense Systems

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to sign a significant new defense package with France on Monday.

The Gaze reports this, referring to Reuters.

Zelenskyy arrived in Paris for high-level talks with French President Emmanuel Macron at a moment when Russian forces have stepped up missile and drone attacks across Ukraine and claimed localized advances in the Zaporizhzhia region.

According to Reuters, the agreement follows several weeks of intensive discussions on how France could expand support for Ukraine’s air-defense network – despite political turbulence and budget pressures in Paris that had prompted doubts about France’s ability to scale up military aid.

Last month, Macron pledged additional Mirage fighter jets, initially six aircraft, and a new batch of Aster-30 surface-to-air missiles for Kyiv’s SAMP/T air-defense systems. However, sources familiar with the talks say Monday’s visit is set to deliver far more.

Two officials told Reuters that France and Ukraine are poised to finalize a 10-year strategic aviation agreement, paving the way for future deliveries of French-made Rafale multirole fighters, produced by Dassault Aviation.

Some Rafales could be transferred directly from French military stockpiles, but most are expected to be part of Ukraine’s long-term plan to grow its future fleet to around 250 combat aircraft, a mix that would include U.S. F-16s and Swedish Gripens.

The same sources said Paris may also commit to supplying additional SAMP/T systems – either from existing inventories or through long-term procurement of next-generation models – along with new missiles and enhanced counter-UAV technologies.

Ahead of the meeting, Macron’s office stated that France aims to “place French defense-industry excellence at Ukraine’s disposal” and ensure Kyiv can purchase the equipment required to counter Russia’s ongoing aggression.

France’s assistance has recently included more unconventional contributions as well. The Guardian reported that Ukrainian forces have begun using discarded fishing nets from the Brittany region as improvised barriers to protect roads from Russian drones. 

Local fishing communities quickly responded after learning of Ukraine’s need, offering nets that were otherwise difficult to recycle.

As The Gaze reported earlier, France has confirmed its readiness to begin joint weapons production in Ukraine after high-level talks in Kyiv between Deputy Defense Minister Serhii Boiev and representatives of France’s defense and security industry group GICAT.

Read more on The Gaze: Swarm Strategy: The Future of Deterrence in Eastern Europe