President Volodymyr Zelensky hailed a new 10-year defense pact with France as “a special moment, really a historical one for both nations,” after signing the letter of intent in Paris. This landmark agreement solidifies a long-term strategic alliance with France and includes a massive preliminary deal for Ukraine to acquire 100 Dassault Rafale jets, eight SAMP/T air defense systems, radars, and drones.
The president’s “historical” designation reflects the scale and duration of the commitment. As the war with Russia enters its fourth year and US support has been halted by the Trump administration, this decade-long pact from a major European power provides Ukraine with the security and predictability it desperately needs. It is a cornerstone of Kyiv’s pivot to European defense partners.
The agreement is a direct answer to Zelensky’s most urgent plea: air defense. Russia has escalated its brutal air war, using missiles and glide bombs to kill civilians and destroy the power grid. The new pact provides a comprehensive shield, combining the “world-class” SAMP/T ground-based interceptors with the advanced aerial capabilities of the Rafale fighter jet.
The “historical” pact also looks to the future of Ukraine’s own defense industry. Zelensky announced that the two nations had agreed to work together on joint industrial projects to produce interceptor drones and develop the required technology. This moves Ukraine beyond being an aid recipient to becoming an industrial partner.
Financing for this “special moment” will be underwritten by European mechanisms. The French presidency pointed to the EU’s €150 billion SAFE loan fund, while Zelensky confirmed that Kyiv would also utilize a G7-backed plan to deploy future revenues from immobilized Russian assets to pay for the new hardware.
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