Ukraine will obtain up to 100 French-made Rafale warplanes over the next 10 years under a deal signed on Monday (17 November) with France, both countries said, as Kyiv seeks to bolster its defences against Russia's invasion.
The deal, which also includes Air defence systems, munitions and drones, forms part of a broader defence cooperation agreement signed with President Macron.
Zelenskyy said the agreement is aimed at strengthening Ukraine’s military and will come into effect in 2026, lasting for ten years. Under the deal, Ukraine will also receive “very powerful” French radars and eight SAMP/T air defence systems.
"It will be the greatest air defence, one of the greatest in the world," Zelenskyy told reporters at the event at France's Villacoublay military airport.
The announcement comes after a surge of Russian drone and missile attacks on Ukraine in recent weeks, and Moscow's reports of ground advances in the southeastern Zaporizhzhia region.
The letter of intent was a political commitment, rather than a purchase deal, which would come later, the Elysee said. The aim was to finance it with European Union programmes and the planned use of frozen Russian assets, which the EU still has to agree.
The Ukrainian president emphasised that France’s move is a significant step towards ensuring real and guaranteed security in Europe.
He added that he and Macron had also met with defence companies to discuss specific aspects of technological cooperation.
Zelenskyy also thanked Macron for a new defence package due at the end of the year, which he said would further strengthen Ukraine.
During the visit, Ukrainian state railway company Ukrzaliznytsia signed an agreement with French manufacturer Alstom SA to purchase 55 new electric locomotives to support Ukraine’s logistics.
Zelenskyy visited France following a trip to Athens, Greece, and is scheduled to travel to Spain on Tuesday.
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In a sweeping diplomatic push in Baku, Georgia and Azerbaijan have signed a landmark package of energy and transport agreements, cementing a partnership set to shape the South Caucasus corridor for decades to come.
The first-ever “WUF13 NGO Forum” in the history of the World Urban Forum (WUF) was held on 19 May 2026 at Azerbaijan’s initiative in Baku.
Germany will deploy a Patriot air-defence battery to Türkiye in the coming weeks as part of a NATO mission aimed at strengthening the alliance’s south-eastern flank, German officials have said.
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has called for closer security coordination between Central Asia and China, warning that expanding trade and infrastructure links are exposing the region to increasingly sophisticated cross-border threats.
The World Urban Forum (WUF13) continues in Baku, Azerbaijan on 18 May, addressing the global housing crisis. The day’s agenda includes the official opening press conference, the WUF13 Urban Expo opening and a ministerial dialogue on the Nairobi Declaration to advance Africa's urban agenda.
United Nations World Urban Forum 13 continues in Baku, Azerbaijan on 19 May with sessions and roundtable discussions focused on strengthening dialogue and advancing cooperation in urban development. Organisers say there are nearly 3 billion people globally who face some form of housing inadequacy.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday he had paused a planned attack on Iran after appeals from the leaders of Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, allowing negotiations to continue over a possible deal to end the conflict.
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Azerbaijan and Georgia have agreed to resume daily passenger train services on the Baku-Tbilisi-Baku route from 26 May, 2026, marking a major step in restoring regional rail connectivity after services were suspended in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Germany will deploy a Patriot air-defence battery to Türkiye in the coming weeks as part of a NATO mission aimed at strengthening the alliance’s south-eastern flank, German officials have said.
Estonia said on Tuesday (19 May) that a NATO fighter jet shot down a suspected Ukrainian drone over its territory, in the latest reported airspace violation in the region amid ongoing Ukrainian strikes against Russia.
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European Union negotiators are expected to agree on Tuesday (19 May) on legislation removing import duties on U.S. industrial goods, in a move aimed at implementing last year’s trade agreement with the United States and avoiding higher tariffs threatened by U.S. President Donald Trump.
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