Paris has informed other European capitals that the possibility of sending additional weapons systems, including jets, is on the table, according to two officials briefed on the discussions, but a decision is unlikely to be made in the immediate future. The priority remains to provide air and missile defence systems, they said, and the new push to provide tanks and train Ukrainian crews to use them.
In Paris, Reznikov appeared upbeat about the prospect of obtaining fighter jets from the West, and told reporters he believed the mood among allies was changing.
“[The fighter jets] may be F-16s or [Swedish] Gripens or something from France, I’m not sure what will be the first … We’ll see, but I’m optimistic, and I think it will be as soon as possible,” Reznikov said.
The talks in Paris came after President Emmanuel Macron on Monday said “nothing was excluded” when it came to arms requests from Kyiv, and cautioned that any new type of delivery should not inflame the conflict in Ukraine, and not weaken France’s defense forces.
France is currently transitioning to an air force fleet entirely made up of Rafale planes, which means Paris will have older jets, such as Mirage 2000s, which could be given to Ukraine, according to several people familiar with the matter.
Mirage 2000 voisi olla kompromissi, edistysaskel nykyiseen neukku-museokalustoon, mutta ei kuitenkaan niin moderni, että Venäjän sotilasjohto alkaisi panikoida. Esim. Meteoria tai Amraam-ohjusta ei ole integroitu. Uskon että Ukraina tarttuu tähän, jos mitään muuta ei ole saatavilla.
Ranska on tunnettu sujuvasta “business only” asekaupasta:
“The contract signed by the Ukrainian defence ministry, the French defence ministry and Thales covers the delivery of a complete short-range air defence systems, including a GM200 radar, a command-and-control centre, a radio communications system and air target designators.”