250 New Jets: Ukraine Secures Deals with France and Sweden

In a stunning military procurement blitz, Ukraine has secured preliminary deals for 250 advanced Western fighter jets in under a month. Following a letter of intent with Sweden for 150 Saab jets, President Volodymyr Zelensky has now signed a “historical” 10-year pact with France for 100 Dassault Rafale jets. This rapid acquisition from two of Europe’s top manufacturers will completely remake the Ukrainian air force.
This “all-European” air force strategy is a direct response to the new geopolitical reality. With the Trump administration having halted US support, Ukraine has been forced to pivot to its European neighbors. France and Sweden have now stepped in to provide the long-term, reliable industrial and military support that Kyiv needs to survive.
The 10-year French pact is a comprehensive security guarantee. It includes not just the Rafale jets but also eight “world-class” SAMP/T air defense systems, new radars, and drones. This combination of hardware from multiple European partners will create a robust, integrated air defense network.
The need for this new arsenal is driven by Russia’s brutal air war. Moscow’s intensified use of missiles and glide bombs has devastated Ukrainian cities and the power grid. Zelensky’s top priority is to secure the tools to stop these attacks, and this combined 250-jet procurement from France and Sweden is the answer.
Financing for these massive, parallel deals will be led by the EU. The French presidency confirmed that the EU’s €150 billion SAFE loan fund will be used, and Zelensky stated that Kyiv would also tap the G7-backed plan to use revenues from frozen Russian assets, demonstrating a united European financial front.