Overview
- Zelenskiy met Emmanuel Macron at Villacoublay air base to review Rafale fighters, SAMP/T systems and drones before a planned signing of a letter of intent and contracts, according to the French presidency.
- Paris has previously pledged additional Mirage jets and a new batch of Aster 30 missiles for Ukraine’s SAMP/T batteries, with talks extending to more SAMP/T units and anti‑drone equipment.
- People briefed on the discussions said a 10‑year strategic aviation agreement under consideration would signal future Rafale transfers, though delivery timelines, training and financing remain unsettled.
- An aerospace outlet reported the sides signed a letter of intent covering up to 100 Rafales and cited Zelenskiy as saying Kyiv placed an order, but French officials have not released details on numbers or funding.
- The push comes as Russian drone and missile attacks have intensified and Moscow reports advances in the Zaporizhzhia region, with France and Britain also advancing a multinational headquarters for potential post‑ceasefire deployments.