Ukraine’s Pivot to Europe: 100 French Rafales, 150 Swedish Saabs

Ukraine has executed a decisive strategic pivot to Europe to source its future military, securing preliminary deals for 100 French Rafale jets and 150 Swedish Saab jets in the span of a month. This move, driven by the halt of US aid under the Trump administration, sees Ukraine building its new air force almost entirely with European-made aircraft. President Zelensky’s “historical” 10-year pact with France is the latest and most significant step in this new alignment.
The French deal, signed by Zelensky in Paris, is a comprehensive security guarantee. It includes not just the Dassault-made jets but also critical air defense systems, radars, and drones. European allies, with France and Sweden at the forefront, are now taking on the primary responsibility for financing and equipping Kyiv for the long-term struggle against Russia.
The urgency for this hardware is undeniable. Russia’s escalated air war, featuring glide bombs and mass missile strikes, has devastated Ukrainian infrastructure and killed civilians. Zelensky’s top priority has been securing air defense. The French pact helps fill this gap, providing eight SAMP/T interceptor systems, which Zelensky called “one of the greatest” in the world.
Financing this European-led re-armament is also a European-led effort. The EU is struggling to finalize plans to tap frozen Russian assets, but that mechanism, combined with the EU’s €150 billion SAFE loan fund, will provide the capital. Zelensky confirmed in Paris that Kyiv will use the G7-backed Russian asset plan to pay for the new French hardware.
This new European security architecture is being built for the long haul. The 10-year term of the French pact, combined with the large order from Sweden and the existing F-16s from NATO allies, gives Ukraine a diverse, modern, and resilient military posture that is no longer dependent on the political climate in Washington.