Ukraine, France Sign Rafale Jet Intent

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and French President Emmanuel Macron signed a letter of intent on Monday at the Villacoublay air base near Paris, opening the door for Ukraine to acquire up to 100 French-made Rafale fighter jets along with advanced air defense systems and other equipment over the next decade.

The agreement, described by officials as a political commitment rather than a finalized purchase, focuses on new production rather than transfers from existing French stockpiles. It encompasses Rafale aircraft equipped with weapons systems, the next-generation SAMP/T surface-to-air missile system under development, radar capabilities, and drone platforms. Zelensky, on his ninth visit to Paris since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, toured the air base with Macron, where French manufacturers demonstrated the technology to the Ukrainian delegation.

"This will be the greatest air defense, one of the greatest in the world," Zelensky told reporters after the signing, standing before a Rafale jet flanked by French and Ukrainian flags. The deal aims to enhance Ukraine's long-term military capabilities amid escalating Russian drone and missile strikes on its...