Macron promises Zelensky a hundred state-of-the-art fighter jets

ParisWith winter fast approaching, hopes for a short-term peace shattered, and the Russian army advancing on the Donbas front, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is seeking military, political, and economic support from his European allies with a mini-tour of Europe that has taken him first to Greece and then to France, where he served as President of the Republic. The Ukrainian head of state will also visit Spain this Tuesday.

This is the ninth time Zelensky has been received by Macron at the Élysée Palace. While the last time the two leaders discussed the peace prospects promised by US President Donald Trump, the situation is different now. Negotiations to end the war are stalled. And Ukraine is preparing to withstand another winter and a Russian offensive that could still last for years. Zelensky is making this new European tour more vulnerable than ever, not only because the advance of the Russian navybut also politically due to a corruption case that has affected some of his ministers.

Nevertheless, the Ukrainian head of state will return to his country with several agreements with European countries that will provide him with some breathing room. Both presidents announced in Paris a "historic agreement" whereby France will sell up to one hundred Rafala fighter jets—a state-of-the-art model—and their associated weaponry to Kyiv. What was signed is not yet a contract but a "declaration of intent" for the future purchase of the aircraft, which will not be delivered to the country immediately but over the course of ten years.

Strengthening the military industry

It is also a way to ensure that Ukraine will remain linked to Europe in the future. For France, it is a further step in strengthening its military industry. "This agreement demonstrates France's willingness to put its industrial and technological excellence at the service of Ukraine, and therefore of Europe," the French president emphasized. The agreement also includes the delivery of weaponry "in the very short term," such as drones, drone interceptors, and guided bombs. What remained unclear on Monday is how the 100 aircraft, which would cost between 7 and 10 billion euros (the entire order) without equipment or weapons, will be paid for. Kyiv does not have the funds to purchase them and could seek partial financing through European aid mechanisms, but this will likely not be enough. Ukraine, fighting Russia with a significant disadvantage in the air, plans to acquire a fleet of 250 new fighter jets to bolster its air defenses and counterbalance Vladimir Putin. This will be made possible through trade agreements with France, Sweden, and the United States. While Kyiv will most likely complete the fleet after the war is over, it will serve as a tool to "rebuild" the Ukrainian navy and discourage Moscow from launching another attack. "It's a deterrent capability," Macron emphasized.

During the first months of the conflict, the French president had been very cautious about the possibility of deploying fighter jets to Kyiv. He maintained at the time that doing so could provoke an "escalation" of the conflict. But in the summer of 2024, under pressure from European allies, he changed his mind, and France ended up sending Mirage 2000-5F fighter jets to Ukraine, an older model that France is gradually replacing with Rafalas. Now Macron is taking a further step and is prepared to equip Kyiv with the latest generation models.

Both leaders have also made progress in discussions about the volunteer coalition, which will deploy European soldiers on the ground when there is a ceasefire. "We are ready. The work is progressing," Macron assured. There are still no details about which countries will participate, but the objective is clear: the international force that will be deployed will serve to ensure that Russia complies with the peace agreements.

Zelensky seeks support in Madrid

The president's European tour continues this Tuesday in Madrid, where he will meet with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and King Felipe VI. The meeting, which is expected to allow Spain to reaffirm its commitment to Ukraine – according to sources at the Moncloa Palace – will also include discussions on how to increase and improve defense cooperation. Zelensky will also meet with members of parliament and senators. This will be the Ukrainian president's third visit to Spain, after having to cancel his trip in April to attend Pope Francis's funeral. His last visit to Madrid was in May 2014, when a bilateral security agreement was signed to provide Kyiv with military equipment worth approximately €1 billion. The implementation of this agreement will be on the agenda, as will Kyiv's needs on the front lines, following the Spain joined at the end of October the NATO initiative promoted by Trump with the aim of buying American weapons to supply Ukrainian troops.

Although he hasn't been to Madrid for a year, Zelensky has maintained frequent contact with Spanish leaders. He spoke with Pedro Sánchez by phone on October 21, when they agreed on the trip. In that conversation, the Ukrainian president thanked the Moncloa Palace for sending 70 generators to help mitigate the effects of the constant Russian attacks on the country's energy system. He met with King Felipe in September after Zelensky's address at the 80th United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Gas Supply

During his European tour, Zelensky also finalized an agreement in Greece to guarantee natural gas supplies to Ukraine this winter following Russian attacks on energy infrastructure. The Greek state-owned gas company DEPA and the Ukrainian company Naftogaz signed a declaration of intent on Sunday to facilitate the transport of American natural gas to Ukraine throughout the winter, until March 2026. "Most of Ukraine's power plants, our missile facilities, and drones. Our agreements with Greece are an essential element of a comprehensive energy plan we have put in place until the end of winter to supply Ukraine with gas," Zelensky summarized in a message to X.