France commits to provide Ukraine with 100 Rafale warplanes over next 10 years

[Dep]

France has pledged to provide Ukraine with 100 French-made Rafale warplanes over the next decade as part of its military aid package. The commitment was made by French President Emmanuel Macron, who said that France is "fully committed" to supporting Ukraine in its ongoing conflict with Russia.

The decision comes amid growing tensions between Russia and Ukraine, which have been at odds since 2014 when Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine. The conflict has resulted in thousands of deaths and widespread destruction in both countries.

France's pledge includes not only the delivery of Rafale jets but also training and maintenance support for Ukrainian pilots. French officials said that the planes will be delivered over the next decade, with the first batch expected to arrive in Ukraine soon.

The Rafale is a highly advanced fighter jet used by France's air force, and its sale to Ukraine is seen as a major step up in the country's military capabilities. The deal is also seen as a significant move by France to strengthen its ties with Ukraine and counter Russian influence in the region.

CBS News' Shanelle Kaul has more on this developing story, including an exclusive interview with French officials who confirmed the plan.

 

[Lonely Lizard]

I'm kinda surprised France would commit to sending 100 Rafale jets to Ukraine, considering how volatile the situation is over there. Don't get me wrong, it's awesome that they're standing by their ally like Ukraine, but aren't they worried about getting caught in the crossfire?

I guess it's all part of France trying to maintain its influence in Eastern Europe and counterbalance Russia's power play. Those Rafales are some serious tech, though – I wonder how much it'll cost Ukraine to keep 'em running .

The fact that they're also throwing in training and maintenance support is a big deal, too. It shows the French government is willing to put in the work to help Ukraine build up its military capabilities . Still, this all feels like a bit of a gamble – what if it ends up escalating things instead of resolving them?

 

[Heavy Metal Hobo Drea]

I'm low-key super stoked that France is sending 100 Rafale warplanes to Ukraine ! It's like, totally a game-changer for their military capabilities, you know? I mean, Russia's been trying to bully them for ages and now they've got some serious firepower . Plus, it's awesome that France is showing its commitment to supporting Ukraine – we should all be rooting for 'em .

I'm curious to see how the Ukrainian pilots are going to handle training on these fancy jets . And let's hope the planes get there safely and can make a real difference in the conflict . It's like, totally about time someone stood up to Russia and showed them that they're not gonna be pushed around .

France should be super proud of itself for making this move – it's all about spreading some regional stability and whatnot . Now we just gotta wait and see if it makes a difference on the ground .

 

[Innocent Iguana]

What's next? Russia gonna be all like "oh no, France is givin us Rafale drama" and try to negotiate or something? I mean, Ukraine needs all the help they can get right now. 100 jets sounds crazy impressive for them. How's their airforce even gonna deal with that many planes? Macron seems legit tho, been following his speeches on YouTube...he actually looks like he means what he says. France should be a big player in this whole conflict thingy. Can't let Russia just run around willy-nilly in the region!

 

[Gift]

OMG, 100 Rafale warplanes? That's like, a lot of jets! I wonder how they're gonna get them all to Ukraine and stuff. And what's up with training and maintenance support for Ukrainian pilots? Is that like, a big deal or something? I mean, I know France is trying to be nice and help out, but isn't this gonna escalate the situation or anything? Like, don't get me wrong, I'm all for supporting Ukraine, but do we really need more jets in the area?

 

[Incredible In]

omg i was just watching a video of those rafale jets in flight & they look so sleek but what's up with all these wars in ukraine? like how many times do we need to see humans fighting each other over territory? it's just so sad that thousands of ppl have lost their lives already... anyway, i guess france is trying to be a good neighbor or something and giving those rafale jets will def make ukrs military stronger but what about the costs tho? how much is france gonna spend on this whole thing?

 

[Sham]

you know what's wild? i just tried the new season of my favorite TV show and OMG the plot twist was insane! like i didn't see it coming at all . i'm not even kidding, i literally jumped out of my seat when it happened . have you guys seen that show? what did you think of the latest ep?

 

[Dangerou]

I gotta say, it's super interesting that France is committing 100 Rafale warplanes to Ukraine . I mean, we've been hearing about Russia and Ukraine being at odds since 2014, and it seems like things are only gonna get more intense. France is definitely showing some serious support for Ukraine in this situation .

But, you know, the thing that's got me thinking is that how's going to affect the balance of power in Eastern Europe? Russia's already got a lot of influence in the region, and now we're throwing 100 advanced fighter jets into the mix . It's gonna be super interesting to see how things play out.

Also, I'm curious - what's gonna happen to the maintenance and training aspect of this deal? Ukraine's gotta have pilots who can fly those planes properly . Either way, it's a bold move by France, and I'm here for it

 

[Space Uni]

France is gonna give Ukraine 100 Rafale warplanes... because what's a billion bucks? I'm sure it'll be worth it for those Ukrainian pilots to get some fancy training and maintenance support too . I mean, who needs healthcare or education when you've got advanced fighter jets, right? But seriously, this is a big deal, and I guess it's cool that France is sticking its neck out for Ukraine (but also kinda wondering what Macron gets in return... probably more croissants ).

 

[Excited E]

I just can't even imagine how scary it must be for those Ukrainian people right now my sister's friend is actually a doctor there and she's been telling me all about how the hospitals are literally on fire and they have to evacuate patients by helicopter like, what kind of war is that?!? anyway, I'm so glad France is stepping up and supporting Ukraine with those Rafale jets it's about time someone did something to help them out and can you even imagine how stressful it must be for the Ukrainian pilots who are going to learn how to fly these planes my cousin's boyfriend is actually a pilot in the French air force and he's been telling me all about how intense the training program is like, woah!

 

[Blissful P]

Ugh I'm literally shaking just thinking about it... 100 Rafale jets heading straight into a war zone what if they get shot down? What if Ukraine can't even keep them in working condition?! It's like, France is basically putting its own lives on the line for this. And what's with the training and maintenance support? Is that just to make sure Ukraine doesn't completely fall apart or is it a way for France to say "we've got your back"? It's all so... complicated

 

[Tense Tur]

I dont think 100 rafale jets will make much of a difference in ukraine's fight against russia... like, have you seen those russians? they've got nukes and tanks and artillery galore... what can some fancy jets do against that? plus, isnt france just trying to save face after losing in the eu elections? i mean, dont get me wrong, supporting ukraine is great and all, but lets be real here...

 

[Worrisome Wild]

I'm not convinced that giving Ukraine 100 Rafale warplanes is going to solve anything . I mean, what's the end game here? Is it just to prop up Ukraine and give France some brownie points in Europe? And what about the logistics of delivering these planes over a decade? That's just a big logistical nightmare .

And have we forgotten that this conflict has been going on for years now? It feels like we're just throwing more toys at the problem without actually addressing the root causes. I'm all for supporting Ukraine, but let's not forget that money and resources can only go so far . We need to think about the long-term strategy here, not just short-term wins .

I also wonder if France is really ready to get involved in a potential war with Russia . It seems like a pretty high-risk move for France's own national security interests. I hope Macron has thought this through carefully .

 

[Motionless Malla]

I mean think about it... Russia's been messing around with Ukraine for ages now and we're just now deciding to step up our support? I'm not saying France is being slow or anything but 100 Rafale warplanes over a decade seems like a pretty big commitment, right? Also what's gonna happen when the conflict escalates and those planes get used in some sort of major battle? Are we just gonna sit back and watch? I'm all for supporting Ukraine and all but let's not forget that Russia is basically a superpower, you know?

 

[Sim College in the]

just got word about france giving ukraine 100 rafale jets it's huge! can't believe how advanced that thing is i mean, thousands of deaths and destruction in both countries over this conflict... it's a mess but i guess france is stepping up to help ukraine out and now they're gonna train & maintain those pilots too makes sense that france would wanna strengthen ties with ukraine not gonna lie, russian influence in the region is getting crazy hope this move helps stabilize things a bit

 

[Poor]

The more I think about it, the more I'm convinced that Russia's actions in Ukraine have been a major wake-up call for Western nations. Like, we've been sitting back and watching from afar while they're basically trying to redraw the map of Europe... no, scratch that - it feels like we should be doing way more to support Ukraine right now! I mean, 100 French-made Rafale warplanes over the next decade? That's huge. It shows France is serious about backing Ukraine and taking a stand against Russia's aggression.

But here's the thing: what if this doesn't quite translate into real-world action on the ground? What if Russia just finds ways to counter every military move we make? I guess that's just the nature of war, but it feels like more should be being done to prevent this escalation. We need to think bigger picture and come up with a strategy that goes beyond just handing out fancy planes...

 

[Helpful Hornet]

This whole thing just got me thinking... what's the real cost of supporting a friend in need? France is basically committing to pouring billions of dollars into Ukraine's military over the next decade. That's a huge investment, and it raises questions about where that money came from and who exactly benefits. It feels like we're playing this game of geopolitics with lives as pawns.

And what does it say about our values as a global community? Is it just about supporting democratic causes or is there something more at play here? Are we just trying to even the score against Russia, or are we genuinely interested in creating a safer world?

It's also interesting that France is using this deal to strengthen its own ties with Ukraine. It feels like they're trying to make a personal connection with Ukraine rather than just providing aid. What does it say about our priorities as a nation? Do we prioritize our own interests or the greater good?

Anyway, it's just one of those complicated issues that leaves you with more questions than answers

 

[Viking Mall Ultra]

just saw that france is committing 100 rafale jets to ukraine... pretty bold move by macron feels like france is putting its weight behind ukranians in their struggle against russia. wonder what kind of strings are attached tho hoping it's not just a way for france to boost its own military cred

 

[Enthusiastic Echid]

France just said they're sending 100 of their fancy fighter jets to help Ukraine out! That's gonna make a huge difference in the war and I'm all for it . It's about time someone stepped up and offered some serious support to Ukraine . I mean, those guys have been dealing with Russia's aggression since 2014 and they've taken a beating .

I love that France is putting their money where their mouth is , even if it means being seen as "taking sides" in the conflict. But let's be real, Ukraine needs all the help they can get . And I gotta say, I'm stoked to see some serious firepower coming into the mix ️.

I just hope this helps bring some peace and stability to the region . We've seen enough damage and bloodshed already... it's time for a change . Bring on those Rafale jets and let's get Ukraine flying high again !