France Ukraine wants to buy up to 100 French Rafale fighter jets
Ukraine wants to purchase dozens of Rafale fighter jets as well as air defense systems, drones and guided bombs worth billions from France.
17.11.2025, 15:32
17.11.2025, 15:33
SDA
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and French President Emmanuel Macron signed a letter of intent on the purchase of up to 100 Rafale jets by Kiev, among other things, as confirmed by the Élysée Palace in Paris. This includes a program to train Ukrainian pilots for the latest generation of French fighter jets.
"This agreement thus provides for an immediate strengthening of bilateral cooperation over the next ten years, with the acquisition of key capabilities in the short term: Drones, drone defense systems, guided bombs and production commitments by the end of the year and for the next three years," Macron said during Selenskyj's visit to Paris.
Selenskyj specified the orders: "Very powerful French radars, eight SAMP/T air defense systems, six launchers. These are details, certainly technical details for some, but they are important for us," emphasized the head of state.
It was only at the end of October that Zelensky signed a similar letter of intent in Sweden regarding the future purchase of up to 150 Swedish Gripen fighter jets. Kiev wants to build up an air fleet of at least 250 modern jets. However, the financing of these billion-euro purchases is completely unclear.
Financing open
On the question of financing, Macron pointed out that Ukraine's support to date has been covered by its own resources and EU funds. According to TF1, the purchase of 100 Rafale jets alone would cost at least seven to ten billion euros. If Europe mobilized money to finance Ukraine's defence efforts, it would also make sense to procure European rather than American weapons, said Macron.
President Zelensky emphasized that he would like to use funds for a future co-production of Rafale fighter jets. However, the technical prerequisites for this would first have to be created. Co-production of drones is also being sought, for which EU funds should also be used.
Ukraine wants to access frozen Russian funds
At the same time, Zelenskyi continues to hope that frozen Russian central bank funds will be used for a loan known as a "reparation loan". "I think it would be fair if we used the frozen (Russian) assets for these projects that we agreed with President Macron today," said the Ukrainian president.
In addition to arms deals, France and Ukraine also agreed on the delivery of 55 electric locomotives from French manufacturer Alstom to the Ukrainian state railroad. The delivery, worth 475 million euros, will be financed by the World Bank and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
