The Ukrainian president’s recent visit to France yielded no significant breakthroughs or setbacks in bilateral relations. President Emmanuel Macron reiterated France’s “steadfast support for Ukraine,” assuring that the volume of French aid would remain unchanged. Yet, questions linger regarding Paris’s willingness to endorse Kyiv’s request to use Western long-range weaponry, a topic President Volodymyr Zelensky is actively negotiating with Western leaders.
The news of Volodymyr Zelensky’s brief visit to Paris surfaced just hours before his arrival, a hallmark of wartime diplomacy. After his discussions with Zelensky, President Emmanuel Macron declared that France is proceeding “in accordance with its commitments” regarding military support for Ukraine. “This is a very unique model of cooperation,” he emphasised. Their conversation extended just beyond three hours. Speaking to the press, Zelensky highlighted his concerns about restrictions on Ukraine’s use of long-range weapons, noting that Ukrainian drones are insufficient to meet the needs of the front lines. However, the official statements from French leaders do not provide a clear indication of support for this request.
The French press has been relatively reserved in its coverage of President Volodymyr Zelensky’s brief visit. “No significant statements,” observed Le Monde. “This marks Zelensky’s fifth visit to France since the onset of the full-scale war,” reported TF1. The network also noted that President Zelensky provided Emmanuel Macron with an overview of the “victory plan for Ukraine,” which noticeably lacks clarity. While a second peace summit is anticipated in November, Kyiv has yet to specify the dates.
This year, France’s military support budget for Ukraine is pegged at €3 billion. The Élysée Palace has pledged to honour its commitments, even amid a domestic political landscape that remains challenging.
Before Zelensky’s arrival, Macron visited a Ukrainian battalion undergoing training “somewhere in the East.” The French military is in the process of training and equipping the 155th Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which is preparing to deploy to the front lines.
The 155th Brigade is named after Anna of Kyiv—a French queen and the daughter of Prince Yaroslav the Wise. Paris has committed to fully equipping and supplying 2,300 soldiers, with training set to unfold over two months, in October and November. According to the French Ministry of Defence, just over half of the brigade’s total of 4,500 servicemen will receive training in France, specifically focusing on three infantry battalions and their supporting units, which include engineers, artillery, ground-air observation, and reconnaissance. The remaining 2,200 personnel will continue their training in Ukraine. This comprehensive training programme for Ukrainian soldiers will involve the participation of 1,500 French servicemen, underscoring France’s commitment to enhancing Ukraine’s military capabilities.
France is set to equip the brigade with a robust arsenal, including 128 armoured front-line vehicles, 18 Caesar howitzers, over 18 AMX-10 light tanks, 20 Milan anti-tank missile systems, and 10 TRM 10,000 military trucks tailored for operations in challenging terrains.
In a testament to its commitment, France has already trained more than 15,000 Ukrainian servicemen across various disciplines, from infantry combat and artillery to the maintenance of transferred equipment and healthcare. In June, President Emmanuel Macron announced the transfer of Mirage 2000-5 fighter jets to Ukraine, and currently, pilots and mechanics are undergoing training to effectively operate these advanced aircraft.
