France is pushing forward a plan to strengthen Ukraine's air force over the next decade, which includes production of new fighters and air defense systems. However, the publication The Wall Street Journal notes that the question of who will pay for it remains unresolved.

The publication notes that on Monday, November 16, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited Paris to sign an agreement to purchase French weapons.

Kyiv plans to spend billions on purchasing various weapons from France: from drones and guided bombs to Samp/T missile defense systems and up to 100 Rafale fighter jets.

It is indicated that if the deal is concluded, taking into account Kyiv's plans to also purchase up to 150 Gripen aircraft from Sweden, Ukraine will be able to create the largest European fighter fleet outside of Russia.

The article notes that the announcement has sparked skepticism among defense analysts, who question whether the huge spending on fighter jets is in line with Ukraine's battlefield needs, as well as the financial realities of its European allies.

The publication suggests that neither Kyiv nor Paris have the funds to finance the production of these fighters. Representatives of the European Union do not rule out that Ukraine may run out of money altogether in the spring. In addition, France's struggle to reduce its own budget deficit has led to a change of several governments in a row.

At the same time, the publication suggests that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's desire to purchase French and Swedish weapons underscores the country's intention to seek alternatives to the United States for its future military equipment needs.

Although the Patriot missile defense system is successfully used in Ukraine, Kyiv wants to purchase its European equivalent, the Samp/T. It is reported that the first deliveries of the latest version of this system to France and Italy are scheduled for early next year.

It is noteworthy that the United Kingdom and Germany have already provided Ukraine with a large number of missiles and armored vehicles of their own production.

The article indicates that French officials are insisting that the EU develop a long-term strategy for financing Ukraine's military potential for the coming years.

The European Union is currently considering the option of providing Ukraine with a loan of 183 billion euros, these funds will be taken from frozen Russian assets stored in Belgium.

However, not everyone in the EU supports the idea of using Russia's frozen assets. Most of them are held by the financial intermediary Euroclear in Belgium, and officials in that country fear political or legal problems if the decision is made.

It is noted that complex discussions have already taken place in Brussels regarding the use of funds if the loan is approved.

Defense analyst Nick Cunningham suggested that Ukraine's plans to purchase French equipment may be related to attempts to engage that country to convince Belgium to agree to hand over seized Russian assets.

"You're right if you interpret this in a political context. But the closer you are to Russia, the more equipment you need," Cunningham noted.

In addition, Leo Periya-Pegne, a researcher at the French Institute of International Relations, does not rule out that Dassault Aviation, which produces Rafale aircraft, may face difficulties in producing 100 fighters over the next 10 years.

Periya-Pagne said it takes about two to three years to produce a Rafale. In October, the company said it had 233 orders for the jets, which it plans to deliver over the next five years.

"At the moment, these are just empty words," Periya-Pegne reacted to Macron's words.

Cooperation between Ukraine and France: all the details

UNIAN previously reported that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that by 2035, Ukraine plans to order 100 Rafale F4 fighters, SAMP-T air defense systems, radars for air defense systems, air-to-air missiles, and aerial bombs from France.

Zelensky believes that Ukrainian pilots, who already know how to fly Mirage-2000 fighters, will be able to quickly learn to drive and these planes.

We also wrote that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and French President Emmanuel Macron signed an agreement to strengthen Ukraine. The French military says some of the fighters could be sourced from the country's strategic reserves. However, French sources say it could take up to three years from the decision to the actual delivery of the Rafale due to production cycles, even though France has increased its production rate.