Sawt Falasteen - France makes 'historic' accord to sell Ukraine 100 warplanes

Delivery of the Rafale fighter jets -- the crown jewel of French combat aviation -- is only foreseen under the letter of intent over a 10-year horizon, although the production of drones and interceptors would start by the end of this year, Macron said.

The announcement, made as Zelensky visited Paris, came with the Ukrainian leader in need of support after setbacks over the last week due to a corruption scandal at home, Russian forces closing in on the Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk and continued aerial attacks by Moscow.

Macron acknowledged that this was currently a "difficult moment" in the conflict, which was sparked by Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

"Russia alone is making the choice to continue this war and to intensify it," he told reporters alongside Zelensky, accusing Russia of having an "addiction for war".

But the French leader said he hoped "peace will be obtained before 2027" when his own mandate expires, adding that there needed to be then a "regeneration" of the Ukrainian army so that it is "capable of dissuading any new incursion" by Russia.

The letter of intent inked by the two leaders at France's Villacoublay air base sets out possible future contracts for Ukraine to acquire 100 Rafale fighter jets "with their associated weapons", the French presidency said.

It also lays out deals for the new generation SAMP-T air defence systems which are under development, radar systems and the drones.

"It is a historic agreement," Zelensky said.

The Ukrainian president has already signed a letter of intent to acquire 100 to 150 Swedish Gripen fighter jets.

France has delivered Mirage fighter jets to Kyiv but this is the first time Rafale planes have been promised.

Financial details were not disclosed but France intends dip into its own budget contribution and use joint EU borrowing mechanisms, despite the risk of potential German resistance, to help Kyiv finance the deal.

- Ukraine on backfoot -

The visit by Zelensky to France was his ninth since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

It comes ahead of what analysts predict will be a tough winter for Kyiv as Moscow presses on the battlefield.

Overnight, Russian strikes killed three people in a city in Ukraine's eastern Kharkiv region, its military administration chief said. Seven people were killed after Russia struck apartment blocks across the capital Kyiv on Friday.

The Russian army seized three more villages across eastern Ukraine, the defence ministry in Moscow said Monday, the latest in its grinding advance.

Efforts by US President Donald Trump to force a peace deal have stalled as Moscow has rejected calls for a ceasefire and refused to drop hardline territorial demands.

With the delivery of the Rafale jets only expected after the war, Macron said: "There will be no robust, lasting peace if there is not a strong Ukrainian army."

- 'Efforts' against corruption -

Zelensky at the weekend announced an overhaul of state-owned energy companies after a corruption scandal, ordering two ministers to resign and sanctioning a former business partner who was named as its mastermind.

Macron said Ukraine's path to join the European Union required "demanding and deep efforts and reforms notably on governance and fight against corruption", adding he had "confidence" in Ukrainians and Zelensky to do this.

Pressed during the news conference over whether enough had been done to fight against corruption, Zelensky said: "It is not enough. We will continue the appropriate actions."

Macron and Zelensky also visited the headquarters of a Ukraine multinational force that France and Britain are preparing in the event an international force is deployed in Ukraine after any ceasefire.

The headquarters, at Mont Valerien, west of Paris, is where countries from the "coalition of the willing" organised by France and Britain have sent officers to prepare the force.

France says that 34 countries and Ukraine have already offered to take part.

Y.Zaher--SF-PST