Ukraine plans to buy up to 100 Rafale warplanes and air defense systems from France

PARIS (AP) — Ukraine on Monday signed a letter of intent to buy up to 100 Rafale warplanes, drones, air defense systems and other key equipment from France over the next 10 years, as part of efforts to strengthen the country's long-term security.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who signed the document with French President Emmanuel Macron, called it “a historic deal” at a joint news conference at the Elysée presidential palace. The letter is a preliminary commitment of Ukraine stating its interest in buying a series of French defense equipment.

“Firstly, Ukraine will be able to receive 100 Rafale fighter jets (and) very strong French radars — eight air-defense systems SAMP/T, each with six launching systems," Zelenskyy said. "This is a strategic agreement that will work for 10 years, starting next year."

Macron praised “a new step forward” in the France-Ukraine relationship.

He said Monday’s agreement includes France’s latest-generation jet fighters with full armament, as well as accompanying training and production programs.

The Rafale is France’s most advanced fighter jet, a high-tech, delta-winged, multi-role warplane known for its maneuverability and efficiency. It has been deployed in the country’s foreign military operations including in the Middle East and Africa, and comes at a cost estimated at over $100 million per aircraft.

The letter of intent also includes the acquisition of drones and drone interceptors, guided bombs and the next-generation SAMP/T ground-to-air systems, with first deliveries expected over the next three years, Macron said.

The chief of the French defense staff, Air Force Gen. Fabien Mandon, this month told French senators that the European-made SAMP/T that France provided to Ukraine are proving more effective than U.S.-made Patriot batteries against hard-to-hit Russian missiles.

No schedule was provided for the delivery of the first Rafales.

A French government official said training a Rafale pilot takes at least three years.

The official, who wasn't authorized to speak publicly on the issue, said France is able to produce and accelerate the production of Rafales and won’t need to use the warplanes currently in service by the French military to supply Ukraine. The official said the agreement with Ukraine won't derail the delivery of Rafales to other foreign clients.

The plane manufacturer, Dassault Aviation, has sold more than 500 Rafales, including more than 300 for export to countries including Egypt, India, Qatar, Greece, Croatia, the United Arab Emirates, Serbia and Indonesia.

Zelenskyy, on his ninth visit to Paris since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, seeks to strengthen Ukraine’s defenses as the country enters another winter under Russian bombardment of its energy infrastructure and other targets.

Last month, Ukraine and Sweden signed an agreement exploring the possibility of Ukraine buying up to 150 Swedish-made Gripen fighter jets over the next decade or more. Ukraine has already received American-made F-16s and French Mirages.

“I can tell you that this is a very serious fleet that we are building for Ukraine," Zelenskyy said. “For example, those pilots who have practice with Mirage jets, we know it very well that they won’t spend a year to learn operating the future Rafale planes, they will instead quickly switch to them.”

France is among major suppliers of defense assistance to Ukraine.

On Monday morning, Macron and Zelenskyy visited an air base in the Paris outskirts. They later headed to Mont Valérien, west of Paris, the headquarters of a multinational force dubbed the “coalition of the willing" that France and Britain have been preparing with more than 30 other nations to deploy to Ukraine to police an eventual ceasefire.

French officials say the force could be deployed immediately after a ceasefire and would be stationed away from the front lines in an effort to help dissuade renewed Russian attacks. Russian President Vladimir Putin has so far rejected calls for a ceasefire as his troops make creeping gains on the battlefield.

No details were provided on Monday about the financing of the defense package for Ukraine. Kyiv is pushing to use money from Russia's frozen assets to pay for the weapons, but the European Union has not yet agreed to it.

“I believe that in the end we’ll reach an agreement to push this topic to the end and be able to use Russian assets for the European defense package, for Ukrainian production, and for the most part for the air defense systems from the United States of America," Zelenskyy said.

Zelensky made a stop in Greece on Sunday to sign an agreement to supply Ukraine with U.S. liquefied natural gas, and is due to travel to Spain on Tuesday.

Associated Press writers John Leicester in Paris, Illia Novikov and Barry Hatton in Kyiv, Ukraine contributed to the report.

Follow AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, left, and French President Emmanuel Macron, attend a joint press conference at the Elysee Palace in Paris, Monday, Nov. 17, 2025. (Sarah Meyssonnier, Pool Photo via AP)

French President Emmanuel Macron, left, welcomes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Monday, Nov. 17, 2025 before a joint press conference at the Elysee Palace in Paris. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

French President Emmanuel Macron, left, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, center, visit the offices of the future international force known as the coalition of the willing, Monday, Nov. 17, 2025 at the Mont Valerien in Suresnes, outside Paris. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena, Pool)

French President Emmanuel Macron, right, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy shake hands after signing an agreement Monday, Nov. 17, 2025 at the Villacoublay air base near Paris. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena, Pool)

French President Emmanuel Macron, right, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sign an agreement Monday, Nov. 17, 2025 at the Villacoublay air base near Paris. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena, Pool)

French President Emmanuel Macron, right, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy hug after signing an agreement Monday, Nov. 17, 2025 at the Villacoublay air base near Paris. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena, Pool)

A Rafale jet fighter is seen before the arrival of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy Monday, Nov. 17, 2025 at the Villacoublay air base near Paris. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena, Pool)

A Rafale jet fighter, drones and ammunitions are seen before the arrival of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy Monday, Nov. 17, 2025 at the Villacoublay air base near Paris. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena, Pool)

A Rafale jet fighter is seen before the arrival of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy Monday, Nov. 17, 2025 at the Villacoublay air base near Paris. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena, Pool)

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — The final score of the Florida game Saturday: Panthers 7, Columbus Blue Jackets 6.

And on the scoreboard, it read “6 7.”

Panthers, meet a phenomenon.

The viral term “6-7” was the talk of the Panthers' locker room after their overtime win, even though the back-to-back Stanley Cup champions — like pretty much everybody else on the planet — have no idea what it means.

“I don't know what is going on with this 6-7 thing,” said Panthers forward Sam Bennett, who scored the winning goal in overtime. “But it's funny that's how it ended tonight.”

It seems possible that Bennett knows more about the craze than he's letting on. In the on-ice postgame interview with Panthers sideline reporter Katie Engleson of Scripps Sports, Bennett made the juggling hands gesture that has become synonymous with whatever 6-7 is.

The 6-7 craze is so popular that Dictionary.com announced the phrase as its word of the year, even though it's not actually a word.

“Don’t worry, because we’re all still trying to figure out exactly what it means,” the site said in October when it made the decision.

The popular theory is that 6-7 gained popularity from rapper Skrilla’s song from 2024 called “Doot Doot (6-7)" that made it into TikTok videos and other social media mentions. NFL players have used it in touchdown celebrations as well.

And it's like the Panthers knew a game like this was coming. They played Saturday and play again at home Sunday, which means they're playing on Dec. 6 and Dec. 7 — so, yes, they're calling this “6-7 weekend.”

“Yeah, 6-7 night, 6-7 score, I'm sure the kids will have a lot of fun with that,” Panthers forward Brad Marchand said. “I know my kids were up there doing the ol' 6-7 dance. It's fun when those things happen.”

Panthers coach Paul Maurice made clear that he has “no idea” what any of it means.

“I will reiterate there’s a whole bunch of things I don’t need to know or investigate, research, or understand better than I do now,” Maurice said. “So, let’s all just leave it right there.”

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/NHL

Florida Panthers celebrate the team's second goal, scored by center Sam Bennett, center, during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Friday, Nov. 28, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Florida Panthers center Sam Reinhart (13) reacts after scoring a goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)