As Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine grinds into its fourth year, Kyiv is making a decisive shift to long-term strategic planning by signing a “historical” 10-year defense pact with France. This agreement, finalized by President Zelensky in Paris, signals that Ukraine and its European allies are preparing for a protracted conflict. The pact provides a stable, decade-long pipeline for military hardware, including 100 Rafale jets.
This move to long-term framework agreements is a new and necessary strategy. The war’s duration, combined with the halt of support from the Trump administration in the US, has made ad-hoc, short-term aid packages obsolete. This French deal, and a similar recent letter of intent with Sweden for 150 Saab jets, builds a sustainable and resilient defense posture for the long haul.
The 10-year pact is a comprehensive security guarantee. It includes the 100 Dassault-made jets, eight “world-class” SAMP/T air defense systems, modern radars, and drones. This package will allow Ukraine to methodically modernize its military over the next decade to counter Russia’s evolving threats, particularly its escalated air war.
A key part of the 10-year plan is the inclusion of joint industrial projects. Zelensky announced that France and Ukraine will co-produce interceptor drones, a move to build up Kyiv’s domestic manufacturing capacity. This ensures that Ukraine’s defense industry grows stronger over the decade, rather than remaining solely dependent on foreign purchases.
Financing for this decade-long commitment will be drawn from European sources. The EU’s €150 billion SAFE loan fund and a G7 mechanism to use revenues from frozen Russian assets will provide the financial backbone. This stable funding allows Ukraine to plan its military modernization effectively as it braces for the war’s next phase.