French President Emmanuel Macron welcomes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy as he arrives for a meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, November 17, 2025. (Photo: REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier)

Zelenskiy called it a historic deal, marking the first time Ukraine has acquired this type of fighter jet as well as new-generation air-defense systems. The deal includes the acquisition of drones, radar systems, AASM Hammer air-to-surface munitions, and the latest generation of SAMP/T air-defense batteries.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Monday in a letter to 27 European Union governments calling for a quick agreement on how to fund Ukraine's enormous 160 billion USD budget hole for 2026 and 2027.

Europe cannot afford paralysis, she said, either by hesitation or by searching for perfect solutions which don’t exist, adding that there are no easy options. She said that in 2026 and 2027 Kiev will require 97 billion USD to fund the Ukrainian army and 61 billion USD to stabilize its economy and address its budget deficit.