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.
The Kremlin on Monday rejected a 60-day ceasefire idea proposed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to...
One person was killed and nearly a dozen hurt in a fresh attack on Riyadh's international airport on Sunday, S...
Here's your AnewZ Daily Brief for 12 October 2026 with the top five natural disasters happening around the world. ...
The explosion at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Saturday afternoon killed at least 12 people and injured a further 309, according to Saudi Arabia’s Civil Aviation Authority. The airport remains closed until further notice.
One person was killed and nearly a dozen hurt in a fresh attack on Riyadh's international airport on Sunday, Saudi authorities reported, a day after a strike claimed by Yemen's Houthis killed 13 people and wounded more than 300.
Yemen's Houthis renewed warning to airlines, airport workers, and travellers against using Saudi airports, saying the warning should be taken seriously and that the kingdom “bore responsibility for failed interceptions”, a day after an attack on Riyadh's international airport that killed 12 people.
The Houthi movement has escalated their attacks on Saudi Arabia, targeting the airport in Riyadh and other cities, killing more than a dozen people.
Ukraine is ready to stop attacks on Russian oil refineries if Moscow also halts strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Sunday.
The Kremlin on Monday rejected a 60-day ceasefire idea proposed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to allow his country to hold presidential elections, saying it wanted an overall peace deal instead.
Here's your AnewZ Daily Brief for 12 October 2026 with the top five natural disasters happening around the world.
The Houthi movement has escalated their attacks on Saudi Arabia, targeting the airport in Riyadh and other cities, killing more than a dozen people.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Monday that Ukraine is ready to respect the energy ceasefire announced by U.S. President Donald Trump, but only if Russia does the same, saying Moscow has already violated the agreement.
China has announced sanctions against Belize’s foreign minister and Paraguay’s communications minister over their countries’ diplomatic ties with Taiwan. The move comes as Beijing continues to pressure the few remaining nations that maintain formal diplomatic relations with Taipei.
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