PARIS — Ukraine on Monday signed a letter of intent to buy up to 100 Rafale warplanes from France over the next 10 years, the two leaders said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who signed the document with French President Emmanuel Macron, called it “a historic deal” at a joint news conference at the Elysée presidential palace. The letter states that Ukraine is considering the possibility of buying French defense equipment.
“Firstly, Ukraine will be able to receive 100 Rafale fighter jets (and) very strong French radars — eight air-defense systems SAMP/T, each with six launching systems,” he said. “This is a strategic agreement that will work for 10 years, starting next year.”
Macron added, “Today we’re moving to a next step.”
He said Monday’s agreement includes the acquisition of France’s latest-generation jet fighters with full armament, as well as accompanying training and production programs.
The letter of intent also includes the acquisition of drones and drone interceptors, guided bombs and the next-generation SAMP/T ground-to-air systems, with first deliveries expected over the next three years, he added.
The chief of the French defense staff, Air Force Gen. Fabien Mandon, this month told French senators that the European-made SAMP/T that France provided to Ukraine are proving more effective than U.S.-made Patriot batteries against hard-to-hit Russian missiles.
Zelenskyy, on his ninth visit to Paris since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, seeks to strengthen Ukraine’s defenses as the country enters another winter under Russian b