France signals readiness for Ukraine peace mission with military drills

European forces earmarked for a peacekeeping mission in Ukraine will conduct military exercises in neighbouring countries in the coming months, French President Emmanuel Macron said, following a “coalition of the willing” summit in Paris.

“Today we made the decision to conduct exercises that will take place in the coming months. [Servicemen who will be part of these forces] will be sent to countries neighbouring Ukraine to confirm our plans for deploying the contingent and to demonstrate our readiness, determination and confidence,” Macron said in a statement carried by Le Monde newspaper.

The planned drills are intended to test deployment scenarios and signal preparedness by Western allies should a peace agreement in Ukraine be reached.

Separately, France and Ukraine agreed on a roadmap covering future defence cooperation, including Kyiv’s planned purchase of 16 French Rafale fighter jets equipped with weapons systems. Macron said, “The first of them will be flying in the Ukrainian sky in 2028–2029.”

Ukraine is also set to procure an initial batch of the next-generation SAMP/T NG air defence system. “They will complement the systems already delivered, missiles for which will be transferred in the coming weeks,” Macron said.

The agreement further предусматривает the supply of radar systems and the establishment of licensed production in Ukraine of AASM guided bombs, Aster 30 surface-to-air missiles and Scalp cruise missiles.

By Tamilla Hasanova