Ukrainians in France welcome historic Kyiv-Paris defense agreement

The Ukrainian community in France has expressed support and gratitude to the French government following the signing of a defense cooperation agreement with Ukraine.

The deal was finalized on Nov. 17 by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his counterpart Emmanuel Macron on the runway of the Villacoublay airbase near Paris.

Zelenskyy previously said that the agreement allows Ukraine to acquire advanced weaponry from the French defense industry. This includes 100 Rafale F4 fighter jets by 2035, SAMP/T air-defense systems, radar units, air-to-air missiles, and aerial bombs.

Volodymyr Kogutyak, UWC Vice President for Western Europe and Vice President of the Association of Ukrainians in France (AUF), said that France is not just a partner, but a true friend of Ukraine.

“This is an example of how the civilized world should support Ukraine,” Kogutyak said.

He added that France’s support is crucial not only for Ukraine but for the security of Europe as a whole. Kogutyak praised the French government and Macron for their deliberate approach to Russia’s aggression, stressing that Russia’s war against Ukraine poses a threat to the entire European continent.

Zelenskyy also announced that joint projects between Ukrainian and French defense companies will begin this year, including the production of interceptor drones and the development of critical technologies and components for Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles.