Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and French President Emmanuel Macron at the Villacoublay air base near Paris, France, 17 November 2025. Photo: EPA / Christophe Ena
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a letter of intent committing Kyiv to the purchase of 100 French Rafale fighter jets and advanced air defence systems during a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday, Agence France Presse has reported.
After their meeting at Villacoublay Air Base outside Paris, Zelensky confirmed that Kyiv had placed an order for the Rafale fighter jets, the single largest combat aircraft acquisition in Ukraine’s history.
Referring to Rafales as “the crown jewel of French combat aviation”, French outlet Radio France International reported that the aircraft would be delivered to Ukraine over the course of a decade, but added that details of the deal’s financing had not been disclosed.
Ukraine’s military has been working hard on improving its aerial capabilities, signing a deal for F-16 delivery and training with the US in May, and meeting with Swedish officials in October to discuss the future transfer and joint production of over 100 Swedish-made Gripen E-fighters.
Lithuanian outlet AeroTime reported that French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu had, in his previous role as France’s defence minister, ruled out supplying Rafale jets from France’s existing military stock, citing the limited availability of the aircraft.
