President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with visiting French Minister of the Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs Catherine Vautrin. The parties discussed the supply of air defense systems and joint steps to strengthen Ukrainian and European defense in the wake of the Russian night attack.
He spoke about this in an evening video address on February 7.
“I also had a meeting today with the French Minister of Defense: the Minister is in Ukraine on a visit. I informed about the consequences of today's strike. We discussed what is urgently needed for the stability of Ukraine, for our defense,” Zelensky said.
They discussed Ukraine's priority needs: strengthening air defense, in particular with systems and missiles for them, and expanding Ukrainian aviation with French Mirage and Rafale fighters.
“Mirage is also already an aircraft that is part of Ukraine's air defense system, destroying the “shaheeds” that Russia uses daily. We are counting on support in this area. We are grateful that we signed an agreement on the future modern aviation of Ukraine, that we will be able to receive Rafale, high-quality French-made aircraft. We are counting on a new generation of SAMP/T systems,” Zelenskyy noted.
According to him, the rapid arrival of air defense systems will strengthen the protection of Ukrainian skies. He also emphasized that Ukraine seeks to implement joint projects with France as soon as possible within the framework of European initiatives, primarily SAFE.
Vautrin, in turn, assured of continued support from France. In addition, she positively assessed cooperation with Defense Minister Mikhail Fedorov, in particular in the modernization of radars provided by Paris and cooperation in the production of drones.
“France will adhere to its commitments on Rafale. As for the deliveries, they will be implemented as foreseen within the framework of the SAFE program. We will be your loyal partner, we will defend your cause and try to involve the European defense-industrial complex in this work in a broad sense, in order to strengthen our capabilities and our sovereignty in the European sense,” Vautrin noted.
In addition, the parties discussed increasing sanctions pressure on Russia. Zelensky specifically noted the courage of France, which recently detained a tanker belonging to the Russian shadow fleet.
“It is important that other countries join this work and implement the necessary changes to their legislation to completely block Russian tankers,” the president added.
What is known about the SAFE program?
In March 2025, the European Commission proposed the creation of the SAFE mechanism. The program provides for joint borrowing and lending to EU member states, as well as partners, including Ukraine, to implement a project to strengthen defense capabilities and develop the European defense-industrial complex.
At the end of April, it became known that the European Commission would invest 910 million euros within the framework of the European Defense Fund, which for the first time may involve Ukrainian defense enterprises. At the end of May, the EU agreed to the creation of the fund.
SAFE — a new EU financial instrument worth €150 billion. Its aim is to stimulate the joint production of defence products within the EU, including ammunition, drones and air defence systems.
Loans will be provided on long-term and favorable terms. Production must be based on at least 65% of components originating from the EU, Ukraine or EEA/EFTA countries. Limited participation of third countries under relevant agreements is also envisaged, if this will contribute to the defense capabilities of the European Union and support for Ukraine.