Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited France where he held discussions with Éric Trappier, the President and CEO of Dassault Aviation. The aerospace firm is renowned for manufacturing the Rafale multirole fighter aircraft. During their meeting, Trappier provided an overview of the company’s production facilities and briefed President Zelenskyy on the technical capabilities and performance of Dassault's military aircraft, emphasizing the Rafale family. Dassault also develops components for space, military electronics, and commercial aircraft.
The dialogue focused on substantive cooperation areas, including prospects outlined in a bilateral declaration signed by the Ukrainian and French presidents on November 17. The discussions also highlighted the potential for localizing certain production or partnership projects within Ukraine.
Earlier, French President Emmanuel Macron announced the initiation of a new voluntary military service program aimed at enhancing France’s defenses amidst increasing concerns related to Russia’s threats in Europe. The visit illustrates Ukraine and France's shared intent to strengthen military collaboration and expand aerospace-industrial ties in the context of ongoing geopolitical tensions.
