Macron, Zelensky sign deal for up to 100 Rafale jets
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France and Ukraine signed a framework allowing Kiev to acquire up to 100 Rafale jets, a move seen as expanding NATO's long-term military role near Russia.
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Volodymyr Zelensky and Emmanuel Macron during a signing ceremony at Villacoublay air base near Paris, November 17, 2025. (AFP)
France and Ukraine have announced a new step in their expanding military partnership, with Presidents Emmanuel Macron and Volodymyr Zelensky signing a letter of intent on Monday that outlines plans for Kiev to potentially acquire up to 100 Rafale fighter jets and a range of other advanced French weapons systems.
Signed at the Villacoublay air base outside Paris, the document establishes a framework for future contracts involving Rafale aircraft “and their associated weapons,” alongside next-generation SAMP-T air defense systems, radars, and drones. French officials informed AFP that this is not an immediate arms transfer but a strategic roadmap that could unfold over roughly a decade, effectively binding Ukraine to Western military suppliers for years to come.
Zelensky hailed the accord as “historic,” while Macron described the day as a “great” moment for bilateral ties.
De qui se moque-t-on ?!
— Florian Philippot (@f_philippot) November 17, 2025
Macron et Zelensky viennent de signer un accord, une lettre d’intention prévoyant l’achat par l’Ukraine de 100 avions Rafale d’ici 10 ans ! (cf vidéo ⤵️)
➡️ L’Ukraine n’a évidemment pas les moyens de payer !
Alors de qui se moque-t-on ?!
Ce sera en… pic.twitter.com/s5EVqHHmMH
Western Provocation
A French presidential adviser, speaking anonymously, told AFP that the aim is to enable Ukraine “to respond to Russian aggression.”
From Moscow’s perspective, however, such statements obscure the deeper issue, that NATO has steadily expanded eastward for three decades, encircling Russia with military infrastructure and attempting to draw Ukraine into its security sphere. Russian officials have consistently argued that Western efforts to arm and train Ukrainian forces, beginning long before the 2022 escalation, have transformed the country into a forward operating base threatening Russia’s territorial integrity.
Until now, France had limited its airborne support to supplying older Mirage jets. The introduction of Rafales, a top-tier NATO fighter capable of long-range precision strikes, represents a significant escalation. Combined with Ukraine’s parallel discussions to acquire Swedish Gripen jets, the French framework pushes Ukraine further into full integration with NATO’s air power architecture.
Encroachment Fallout
Zelensky’s latest trip to France, his ninth since the outbreak of full-scale hostilities, comes at a moment when the battlefield situation remains fluid. Russian forces have made incremental gains in the east, recently securing several villages as part of operations intended to protect Russian territory from continuously expanding NATO-backed military presence in Ukraine.
Domestically, Ukraine remains unstable. A corruption scandal involving senior energy officials forced Zelensky to order the resignation of two ministers, adding to concerns about governance during wartime. Meanwhile, Russian strikes across Kharkiv and Kiev have intensified as winter approaches.
Diplomatically, attempts by US President Donald Trump to negotiate a ceasefire have stalled. While Moscow has indicated readiness for talks under conditions that address its core security concerns, Western governments continue to push new weapons packages and refuse to discuss limitations on NATO expansion. Russia insists that any settlement must include guarantees preventing Ukraine’s military integration into NATO, a condition Western capitals have so far rejected.
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