Overview
- President Volodymyr Zelensky and President Emmanuel Macron signed a letter of intent outlining potential purchases over roughly a decade, covering Rafale fighters, radars, drones and next‑generation air‑defense systems.
- Macron emphasized the document is preparatory and does not trigger immediate deliveries, positioning it as part of rebuilding Ukraine’s air force after a ceasefire with Russia.
- The plan includes a Franco‑Ukrainian drone production hub to counter Russian drone attacks, complementing procurement of unmanned systems.
- Financing remains unresolved, with reporting pointing to possible EU loans and proposals to tap frozen Russian assets that face legal and political hurdles inside the bloc.
- If executed in full, the package would represent the largest Rafale export to date, and it lands as Macron publicly recommits to the separate Franco‑German‑Spanish next‑gen fighter program under strain.