Ukraine to buy 100 French fighter jets
The presidents of France and Ukraine, Emmanuel Macron and Volodymyr Zelensky, have signed a memorandum of understanding on the purchase of aircraft, air defence systems and drones. Under the deal, France is to supply Ukraine with around 100 Rafale fighter jets worth more than ten billion euros. Who will pay for them remains unclear.
Paris is showing military strength
At least when it comes to Ukraine, Macron cuts a fine figure, Libération concludes:
“The Elysée Palace's goals are as follows: to ensure a balance of power between the warring parties, to secure regular supplies to Kyiv, and at the same time to build up European defence capabilities. Over the past week Macron has become an almost full-time minister responsible for Ukraine. He seems to be more effective in this role than in managing the French economy. ... It should not be forgotten that France is the seventh largest military power in the world, and, according to experts, has the strongest army in Europe, which has one distinctive feature compared to all other armies: it is present with all types of weapons and on all oceans.”
Assistance is self-help
The EU must continue to support Ukraine, Göteborgs-Posten stresses:
“Aid to Ukraine is essentially self-defence. Europe must continue to arm itself and expand its defence capabilities, which need to increase substantially to be comparable with the US's and at the same time be independent of them. Aid to Ukraine should be seen as part of this project. It will be a practical way to build up urgently needed military production. The costs are quite manageable if the European Nato countries support each other – even if the costs fuel internal political conflict in Germany and France.”
This will be costly
Who is supposed to pay for all this? asks La Repubblica:
“In addition to the Rafale fighter jets and weapon systems, the memorandum of understanding includes the procurement of eight new-generation Samp-T defence systems, four radar units, new deliveries of AASM Hammer guided bombs and various types of drones. It remains unclear who will finance these new deliveries. The cost of the Rafale fighter jets alone is estimated at around twelve billion euros. Macron has declared his intention to use European programmes. Despite Berlin's resistance to the idea of a joint loan, the French president has resumed the European defence bond project, which is intended to guarantee Kyiv 'predictable and stable long-term' support.”