PARIS: France’s President Emmanuel Macron and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky signed an accord on Monday for Kyiv to acquire up to 100 fighter jets and other hardware in a boost for Ukraine as it fights Russia’s invasion.

Delivery of the Rafale fighter jets, the crown jewel of French combat aviation, is only foreseen under the letter of intent over a 10-year horizon, although the production of drones and interceptors would start by the end of this year, Macron said.

The announcement, made as Zelensky visited Paris, came with the Ukrainian leader in need of support after setbacks over the last week due to a corruption scandal at home, Russian forces closing in on the Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk and continued aerial attacks by Moscow.

Macron acknowledged that this was currently a “difficult moment” in the conflict. “Russia alone is making the choice to continue this war and to intensify it,” he told reporters alongside Zelensky, accusing Russia of having an “addiction for war”.

The aircraft suffered damage to its reputation when Pakistan shot down a fighter during the May war with India

But the French leader said he hoped “peace will be obtained before 2027” when his own mandate expires, adding that there needed to be then a “regeneration” of the Ukrainian army so that it is “capable of dissuading any new incursion” by Russia.

The Ukrainian president has already signed a letter of intent to acquire 100 to 150 Swedish Gripen fighter jets.

Blow to reputation

The Rafale, French for a gust of wind, is a twin-jet fighter aircraft designed and built by Dassault Avia­tion. The French group defines it as “omnirole, able to carry out missions including in-depth strikes, nuclear deterrence, reconnaissance and anti-ship strikes”.

The aircraft has seen combat in Afghanistan, Mali, Libya, Iraq and Syria. But it suffered a blow to its reputation when Pakistan shot down, by the firm’s own admission, “at least one of the planes”.

Published in Dawn, November 18th, 2025