French President Emmanuel Macron announced in June 2024 that France would provide Kiev with Mirage 2000 fighter jets and train Ukrainian pilots on the aircraft, although the number of planes to be provided and their delivery date were not specified. The move comes after long-standing requests from Ukraine for such warplanes, which are considered more maneuverable than F-16s but comparable in other respects.
Macron made the announcement during a ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy, France, on June 6, 2024. France has around 26 Mirage 2000-5 and 65 older Mirage 2000-D aircraft in active service, according to Flight International’s World Air Forces rankings. It is unclear whether Macron intends to spare any of the French Air Force’s active duty fleet or recommission out-of-service jets for Kiev.
The announcement follows similar commitments from other NATO members, including Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Norway, which have pledged to supply Ukraine with F-16 fighters. However, none of these aircraft have been delivered as yet. Last month, Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky announced that Belgium would provide 30 F-16s built in the 1980s, bringing the total number of F-16s pledged to 85.
At the beginning of the Ukraine conflict, Macron was cautious about sending heavy weapons to Kiev, fearing that it could escalate tensions. However, he has since become one of the most pro-interventionist NATO leaders, stating that the idea of deploying Western ground troops against Russia “could not be ruled out.
French army chief Aleksandr Syrsky announced last week that French military instructors would soon be deployed in Ukraine. While the Ukrainian defense ministry quickly backtracked on these claims, French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal said that the question of sending French instructors to the country was “not taboo.” Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has claimed that there are indications that French instructors are already working in Ukraine and warned that they represent a legitimate target for Russia’s armed forces.
Macron told TF1 that he is not concerned about escalating the conflict. He announced his support for the formation of a 4,500-strong “French brigade” of French-trained and equipped Ukrainian soldiers, and reiterated last week’s announcement that Ukraine can use French missiles for long-range strikes on Russian soil. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that Moscow would consider arming the enemies of Western nations who provide Ukraine with the means to carry out these strikes.