Overview
- The signing at Villacoublay Air Base establishes a framework for future contracts rather than an immediate purchase, according to officials in Paris and Kyiv.
- France reiterated plans to provide additional Mirage fighter jets and a new batch of Aster 30 missiles for Ukraine’s SAMP/T air-defense batteries, with talks also covering more SAMP/T systems and anti‑drone equipment.
- The strategic aviation plan is envisioned over roughly 10 years, with uncertainty over how many aircraft might come from French stocks versus new production and how quickly Ukraine can train pilots and maintainers.
- Paris and Kyiv advanced industrial cooperation, including a forum linking Ukrainian and French drone manufacturers and broader work with French defense firms.
- Zelensky and Macron visited the multinational headquarters preparing a potential post‑ceasefire security force, as Russia intensifies missile and drone strikes and reports gains in Zaporizhzhia while Ukraine grapples with a corruption scandal tied to its energy sector.