France is a vital partner in the security and future of Ukraine. It is home to one of the largest communities in the Ukrainian disapora.
Military commitments
0.635bn € (Rank: 16)
0.024% of GDP (Rank: 27)
Humanitarian commitments
0.361bn € (Rank: 9)
0.013% of GDP (Rank: 26)
Financial commitments
0.799bn € (Rank: 10)
0.030% of GDP (Rank: 19)
Ukrainian-French bilateral relations
Recognition of Ukraine: December 27, 1991.
Establishment of diplomatic relations: January 24, 1992.
Diplomatic missions: Embassy of Ukraine in France, Embassy of the French Republic in Ukraine.
Recent contacts at the level of heads of state:
December 11, 2022 – phone conversation between President of Ukraine V. Zelenskyy and President of France E. Macron.
January 04, 2023 – phone conversation between President of Ukraine V. Zelenskyy and President of France E. Macron.
January 24, 2023 – phone conversation between President of Ukraine V. Zelenskyy and President of France E. Macron.
February 08, 2023 – visit of President of Ukraine V. Zelenskyy to France (Paris), trilateral meeting with President of France E. Macron and German Chancellor.
February 19, 2023 – phone conversation between President of Ukraine V. Zelenskyy and President of France E. Macron.
April 01, 2023 – phone conversation between President of Ukraine V. Zelenskyy and President of France E. Macron.
April 15, 2023 – phone conversation between President of Ukraine V. Zelenskyy and President of France E. Macron.
April 30, 2023 – phone conversation between President of Ukraine V. Zelenskyy and President of France E. Macron.
May 14, 2023 – visit of President of Ukraine V. Zelenskyy to France (Paris), meeting with President of France E. Macron.
June 01, 2023 – meeting of President of Ukraine V. Zelenskyy with President of France E. Macron on the sidelines of the Second Summit of the European Political Community (Moldova).
June 07, 2023 – phone conversation between President of Ukraine V. Zelenskyy and President of France E. Macron.
Contacts at the parliamentary level:
May 19, 2022 – phone conversation between Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine R. Stefanchuk and President of the Senate of France J. Larcher.
June 3-7, 2022 – visit of the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine R. Stefanchuk to France.
July 7-10, 2022 – visit of President of the French Senate J. Larcher to Ukraine.
September 29, 2022 – visit of a delegation of the French National Assembly headed by its President Yael Bron-Pivet to Ukraine.
January 30-February 2, 2023 – visit of the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada R. Stefanchuk to France.
Contacts at the governmental level:
January 26, 2022 – visit of First Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine – Minister of Economy of Ukraine Y. Svyrydenko to France.
March 18, 2022 – phone conversation between Prime Minister of Ukraine D. Shmyhal and Prime Minister of France J. Castex.
May 22-24, 2022 – visit of Vice Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine O. Stefanishyna to France.
June 6-8, 2022 – visit of Vice Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine O. Stefanishyna to France.
June 28, 2022 – phone conversation between Prime Minister of Ukraine D. Shmyhal and newly appointed Prime Minister of France E. Born.
December 11-14, 2022 – official visit of Prime Minister of Ukraine D. Shmyhal to France. Meetings with President of France E. Macron, Prime Minister of France E. Born, Minister of Economy, Finance and Digital and Industrial Sovereignty B. Le Maire, Minister of Energy Transition Anès Pannier-Runacher, IAEA Director General R. Grossi, OECD Secretary General M. Korman, Vice President of the International Finance Corporation A. Garcia Mora and Deputy Prime Minister of Canada C. Freeland.
Contacts at the level of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs:
January 29, 2022 – Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine D. Kuleba has a telephone conversation with Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France J.-Y. Le Drian, Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs of France.
February 26, 2022 – phone conversation between Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine D. Kuleba with Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France J.-Y. Le Drian.
February 27, 2022 – meeting of Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine D. Kuleba with the G7 Foreign Ministers.
March 9, 2022 – phone conversation between Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine D. Kuleba and Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs of France J.-Y. Le Drian.
March 10, 2022 – phone conversation between Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine D. Kuleba and Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs of France J.-Y. Le Drian.
March 31, 2022 – phone conversation between Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine D. Kuleba and Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs of France J.-Y. Le Drian.
April 07, 2022 – meeting of Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine D. Kuleba with Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs of France J.-Y. Le Drian on the sidelines of the G7.
April 14, 2022 – phone conversation between Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine D. Kuleba and Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs of France J.-Y. Le Drian.
April 25, 2022 – phone conversation between Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine D. Kuleba and Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs of France J.-Y. Le Drian.
May 14, 2022 – meeting between Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine D. Kuleba and Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs of France J.-Y. Le Drian on the sidelines of the G7 meeting.
May 26, 2022 – phone conversation between Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine D. Kuleba and newly appointed Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France C. Colonna.
May 30, 2022 – visit of Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs of France C. Colonna to Ukraine.
August 30, 2022 – meeting of Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba with Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France C. Colonna on the sidelines of the informal meeting of EU Foreign Ministers in the “Gymnich” format in Prague.
September 22, 2022 – meeting of Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine D. Kuleba with Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France C. Colonna on the sidelines of the 77th session of the UN General Assembly.
September 27, 2022 – visit of Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs of France C. Colonna to Ukraine.
October 24, 2022 – phone conversation between Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine D. Kuleba and Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France C. Colonna.
November 03, 2022 – phone conversation between Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine D. Kuleba and Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France C. Colonna.
January 26, 2023 – visit of Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France C. Colonna to Ukraine (Odesa), meeting with Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine D. Kuleba.
February 23, 2023 – meeting of Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine D. Kuleba with Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France C. Colonna on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly emergency session in New York.
May 14, 2023 – meeting of Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba with Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France C. Colonna during President Zelenskyy’s working visit to France.
High-level bilateral bodies:
Mixed Ukrainian-French Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation (the eighth meeting of the Commission took place on 26-27.11.2020 in the format of a video conference. Following the event, the parties signed the Final Declaration, in which they highly appreciated the state of economic cooperation between Ukraine and France and emphasized the importance of developing mutually beneficial cooperation. Particular attention was paid to the state of implementation of current bilateral projects.)
Ukrainian-French Mixed Commission on Cultural, Scientific and Technical Cooperation (last meeting – February 13, 2008 in Paris).
Ukrainian-French Mixed Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (last meeting – November 27, 2012 in Kyiv).
Contractual and legal framework
Number of valid documents: 86. Key documents:
Treaty on Understanding and Cooperation between Ukraine and the French Republic (16.06.1992); Agreement between the Government of Ukraine and the Government of the French Republic on Mutual Promotion and Protection of Investments (03.05.1994); Agreement between the Government of Ukraine and the Government of the French Republic on Cultural, Scientific and Technical Cooperation (19. 10.1995); Convention between the Government of Ukraine and the Government of the French Republic for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income and on Property (31.01.1997); Joint Declaration of the President of Ukraine and the President of the French Republic (22.04.2015), Memorandum on parliamentary cooperation between the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and the National Assembly of the French Republic of 29.08.22
Trade and economic cooperation between Ukraine and the French Republic
Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine made adjustments to the development of economic relations between Ukraine and the world. Accordingly, the State Statistics Service of Ukraine did not publish data on Ukraine’s trade in goods with foreign countries for 2022 (the latest available information on trade in goods with France for January 2022 – 212.88 million US dollars). If we analyze the data for 2021, the total turnover between Ukraine and France amounted to 3,089.7 million US dollars (+30.2% compared to 2020 figures). The increase in turnover was caused by a sharp increase in commodity exports (+51.3%) and imports (+19.6%), while exports of Ukrainian services grew by +39.1%. The foreign trade balance was negative for Ukraine and amounted to -796.6 million dollars. USA. According to Eurostat data, in 2022, Ukraine’s exports to France amounted to EUR 704 million, and Ukraine’s imports from France amounted to EUR 795 million.
It is necessary to note the positive dynamics of Ukrainian exports of fats and oils of animal origin (22.1%). In addition, positive dynamics were observed in other trade positions: seeds and fruits of oleaginous plants (18.7%), food industry residues and waste (9.8%), ferrous metals (7.2%), wood and wood products ( 5.4%), fertilizers (3.5%), edible fruits and nuts (3.3%), electric machines (3.2%).
Regarding trade in services, the value of services provided by Ukraine to France amounted to 250.07 million dollars. USA, which is 36.7% more compared to the corresponding period of 2020. The main items of export of Ukrainian services to France were transport services (39.7%), services in the field of telecommunications, computer and information services (36.4%), business services (16.8%), services for the processing of material resources ( 4.3%).
According to the National Bank of Ukraine, as of December 31, 2021, France invested $1,315.8 million in the economy of Ukraine. US direct investment (equity instruments and debt instruments, balances by countries of the world).
Equity instruments (balances by countries of the world) as of 12/31/2021 amounted to USD 1,055.3 million. of the USA, which is 2.2 percent of the total volume of direct foreign investments involved in the economy of Ukraine.
The largest volume of investments from France in the economy of Ukraine went to the sphere of financial and insurance activities – 471.1 million dollars. USA, which is 44.6 percent. from the total volume of French investments in the Ukrainian economy.
To the sphere of wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles attracted 321.8 million dollars. USA, which is 30.5 percent. from their total volume.
Industry received 157.9 million dollars. USA, which is 15.0 percent. from the total volume of French investments in the Ukrainian economy.
Inflows of French investments in industry were distributed as follows:
Industry
As of 31.12.2020
million dollars USA
In % of the investment volume
As of 31.12.2021
million dollars USA
In % of the investment volume
The total volume of investments in industry:
including:
140,9
17,0
157,9
15,0
Mining and quarrying
*
*
*
*
Processing industry
131,8
15,9
148,8
14,1
Supply of electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning
*
*
*
*
USD 27.9 million was involved in the field of transport, warehouse management, postal and courier activities. USA, which is 2.6 percent. from the volume of investments.
Investments in other spheres of economic activity were distributed as follows:
– agriculture, forestry and fisheries – 45.7 million US dollars.(4.3%);
– information and telecommunications – 17.5 million UA dollars (1.7%);
– activities in the field of administrative and auxiliary services – 4.4 million US dollars (0.4%);
– professional, scientific and technical activities – 3.6 million US dollars, which is 0.3% of the total volume of investments in the Ukrainian economy;
– transactions with real estate – 2.5 million US dollars (0.2%);
– construction – 1.9 million US dollars (0.2%).
– temporary accommodation and catering – 1.0 million US dollars (0.1%);
– education – * million US dollars.
Despite Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Ukrainian-French economic cooperation had quite positive dynamics during the year, in particular in the context of reconstruction and the provision of financial assistance to Ukraine. One of the key economic events in bilateral relations this year was the official visit of the Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal to Paris on December 11-14, 2022, during which 5 agreements were concluded with international partners, totaling almost 500 million euros.
In addition, within the framework of the Forum, the French side handed over a letter about the program of providing state guarantees to the French government through the investment bank Bpifrance Assurance Export for the export of sowing seeds to Ukraine in the amount of approximately 20-25 million euros.
During 2022, cooperation in the field of nuclear energy strengthened: on September 5, 2022, negotiations were held between the French company ORANO and “Energoatom” regarding promising areas of cooperation in the field of nuclear energy.
On December 2, 2022, a meeting of the Ukrainian part of the Mixed Ukrainian-French Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation was held in order to update the current state of implementation of the Action Plan for the implementation of agreements reached during the 8th meeting of the Commission. The next meeting was suggested by representatives of the French Ministry of Economy to be held approximately in May-June this year, in the context of a possible visit of the Minister of Economy, Finance and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty Bruno Le Maire to Ukraine.
On March 9, 2023, with the assistance of the Embassy of Ukraine in France, together with the French law firm BG2V, a conference on attracting investments for the reconstruction of Ukraine was held in Paris.
About 110 participants from French companies and government organizations took part in the event, including representatives of the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine, the Ministry of Economy, Finance, Industrial and Digital Sovereignty of France, the government office for attracting investments UkraineInvest, the association Business France, MEDEF International, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Ukraine and others.
During the event, the participants were presented with the initiatives and incentives of the Ukrainian Government to support the attraction of investments in Ukraine, promising reconstruction projects, as well as the experience of French companies that continue to work on the Ukrainian market during the war and financial support tools that France offers to its companies.
Opening of new markets
The involvement of Ukrainian manufacturing companies and goods in the French market is carried out in accordance with the unified, harmonized rules and standards of the EU, the provisions of the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU. Separate national restrictions on the access of groups of Ukrainian goods, apart from temporary bans in case of phytosanitary threats, are not introduced by the French side.
Exhibition activity
It is worth paying attention, in particular, to active cooperation in the field of IT. On June 15-18, 2022, the first official delegation of Ukraine took place at the Viva Technology international technology conference. In particular, 14 Ukrainian startups and the Ukrainian technological ecosystem as a whole, the unique legal and tax space of Diya.City and Ukrainian victories on the cyber front were presented at Viva Tech 2022.
In the context of the participation of Ukrainian companies in exhibition events, the Embassy of Ukraine in France agreed with the organizers of the SIAL Paris 2022 exhibition to provide a free stand for Ukrainian exporters. The national stand of Ukraine and the Ukrainian food export sector at the exhibition were represented by Ukrainian manufacturers and exporters, in particular 17 companies, including: “GREENVECTOR”, “VSmak”, “Agroimpex Group”, “AMBRA GRAIN”, “Oliyar”, “Kernel-Trade” ” which presented a wide range of domestic oil products, as well as “ICHNYA CONDENSED MILK COMPANY” (condensed milk), “Schedro” (ketchups and mayonnaise), “GK Alliance” (sausages), Radyvylivmoloko (butter and cheese), “Khorol Factory for Baby Food”, “Limo ice cream” and others. This is the first exhibition where the Ukrainian stand was organized under the patronage of NAZOVNI – a digital platform of diplomatic assistance for the promotion of Ukrainian exports abroad.
In recent years, the Embassy has maintained constructive relations with the organizers of the La Cité du Vin Wine Culture and Civilization Foundation. In this regard, with the support of the Ukrvinprom association and the Embassy, on November 15, 2022, a presentation of the Ukrainian wine industry was held in the French city of Bordeaux at the La Cité du Vin Wine Culture and Civilization Foundation. The event took place within the framework of the project called “Ukrainian wine – part of the world cultural heritage of wine at the La Cité du Vin fund”, where the best samples of Ukrainian “ambassador” wines were presented. Ukraine was represented by Prestige group, Shabo, Kolonist, 46 Parallel wine group, My wine by Eduard Gorodetsky, Falko Winery, Beykush Winery, Chateau Chizay, Stakhovsky Wines, Graevo, Artwinery and Fathers Wine.Посольством було домовлено про безкоштовне виділення площі на Міжнародній виставці «Wine Paris&Vinexpo Paris.» (13-15 лютого 2023 р) для національного стенду. З українського боку було забезпечено участь українських компаній як Chateau Chizay, SHABO, ТМ «Falko», ТМ «Graevo», Artwinery, ТМ «Odessa Prestige».
Also, the Embassy of Ukraine in France held negotiations with the organizers of the exhibition “Global Industrie 2023 (March 7-10, 2023), during which it was agreed to provide Ukrainian companies with preferential conditions and free space (84 m²) in the hall dedicated to the Universe of Regions and Countries (l’Univers Régions et Pays). The organizers of the exhibition agreed to provide Ukrainian companies with a preferential tariff of 420 euros for each exhibitor. In addition, the organizers provided an offer on the possibility of building a Ukrainian stand at a price of 204 euros without VAT per m².
The embassy agreed to provide a free stand for the participation of Ukrainian companies in the IT exhibition VivaTechnology 2023, which took place on June 14-17, 2023 in Paris. 12 Ukrainian startups took part in the exhibition: UGLA, Qudi, Orderry, SkillzRun, Revisior, FlightMind.AI, USPACY, MISU, InVisionaryBox, Adminix, G-MAK and Elomia Health.
Economic indicators
Annual inflation (for 2022)– 5.2%.
GDP dynamics (for 2022): +2,6%, forecast for 2023 р.: +0,3%, 2024 р.: +1,2%.
Industrial production (for 2022): +0,3%.
France ranks 6th in the world among exporting countries (with a share of 3.4%).
139,400 French enterprises work for export.
Exports from France (for the first 3 quarters of 2022) – 439 billion euros (+20% compared to the same period in 2021).
Imports to France in February 2023 – 61.5 billion euros (-1.2 billion compared to -1.5 billion in January 2023).
The main export destinations of French products are Germany (68.6 billion euros), Italy (39.1 billion euros), Belgium (37.2 billion euros). Spain (36.4 billion euros). In total, EU countries account for 54.3% of French exports, Great Britain – 6%, other European countries – 7.6%, Asia – 13.7%, American continents – 10.6%.
The main countries from which France imports goods are: Germany (81.4 billion euros), China (63.8 billion euros). Italy (46.3 billion euros), Belgium (45.6 billion euros). In total, EU countries account for 54% of French imports, Great Britain – 3.6%, other European countries – 7%, Asia – 19.2%, American continents – 8%.
The largest export industries are the aerospace industry (19.7 billion euros), the chemical and perfume industry (15.2 billion euros), the agricultural industry (8 billion euros), and the pharmaceutical industry (2.6 billion euros).
Industries most dependent on imports: energy (43.1 billion euros), production equipment 9.5 billion euros), automotive industry (18 billion euros), textile industry and clothing manufacturing (8.6 billion euros).
Export of services from France in 2022 – 240.4 billion euros (+20.8%).
Import of services to France in 2022 – 228.6 billion euros.
- 33 t (32 long tons; 36 short tons) of emergency equipment (500 family tents, 2300 blankets, 1000 hygiene kits, 2000 floor mats, 300 sleeping bags) delivered on 1 March 2022.[99][100]
- 37 t (36 long tons; 41 short tons) of humanitarian aid (500 tents, 1500 beds, 1500 sleeping bags, 25 large tents) delivered to Moldova to take in refugees fleeing the conflict in Ukraine on 2 March 2022.[99][101]
- 8 t (7.9 long tons; 8.8 short tons) of medical supplies (1 mobile clinic composed of medicines and medical equipment, 36 containers of medication) delivered by 2 airplanes through Poland on 2 March 2022.[100]
- 4.23 t (4.16 long tons; 4.66 short tons) of medical equipment (batch of medicines, personal protective equipment, 27 respirators and associated equipment) delivered on 5 March 2022.[102]
- 3.4 t (3.3 long tons; 3.7 short tons) of medicines delivered on 7 March 2022.[102]
- 7.4 t (7.3 long tons; 8.2 short tons) of medicines delivered on 10 March 2022.[102]
- 9 t (8.9 long tons; 9.9 short tons) of emergency equipment (10,000 hygiene kits, 17 large-capacity generators) delivered to Moldova to take in refugees on 17 March 2022.[101]
- 55 t (54 long tons; 61 short tons) of emergency aid (10 oxygen generators, 9 tons of medicines, 31 generators including 6 high-capacity generator, 9 family tents to the Polish Red Cross, 8 tons of IT equipment, 4 tons of baby milk) delivered on 21 March 2022.[103]
- 21 new ambulances, 11 fire engines, 16 personal rescue vehicles and 49 tons of medical and emergency equipment (protective equipment, hand ladders, fire hoses…) dispatched by a convoy of 23 trucks and 100 firefighters and rescuers through Romania on 23 March 2022.[104]
- 2 blood collection lorries donated by the French blood agency delivered on 17 March 2022 and 25 March 2022.[105]
- Dispatch of a unit of 16 gendarmes and 2 forensic experts from the IRCGN with projectable genetic testing system to investigate and capture evidence of alleged war crimes in Ukraine by invading Russian forces since 11 April 2022.[106]
- 12 fire engines, 12 rescue vehicles and 50 tons of emergency equipment for search and rescue and firefighting delivered on 15 April 2022.[107]
- 28 t (28 long tons; 31 short tons) of medical equipment (1 oxygen generator, 50 sets of respiratory equipment, a second batch of respiratory equipment, 4.5 tons of medicines, a second batch of emergency medicines, 1 high capacity generator) delivered on 21 April 2022.[105]
- 6 new or recent firefighting vehicles, 6 new fire brigade ambulances, 1 medical vehicle equipped with a mobile radiology unit, 115 tons of equipment (including 36 km of fire hoses and 56,000 litres of foam) and 20,160 food rations delivered on 10 May 2022.[108]
- 800 t (790 long tons; 880 short tons) of humanitarian aid have been given as of 17 May 2022.[109][110]
- 12,000 IT equipment (4G routers, IP phones, desktop and laptop computers, servers, network and wifi equipment) delivered through Poland on 25 May 2022.[111]
- 600 t (590 long tons; 660 short tons) of potato plants donated by producers from the French Federation of Seed Potato Growers shipped and distributed directly to Ukrainian farmers between April and May 2022.[112]
- Evacuation and medical treatment of wounded Ukrainian soldiers. At least 3 operations were carried out (on 20 May 2022, 16 June 2022 and 17 June 2022) to evacuate 13 Ukrainian war wounded.[113][114][115]
- 1 mobile health post (equipped with medical supplies and medicines) and medical equipment used for anaesthesia and resuscitation delivered on 28 June 2022.[116]
- 1 mobile DNA analysis laboratory to help investigate Russian war crimes promised by French President Emmanuel Macron during his visit to Kyiv and delivered on 14 July 2022.[117][118][119]
- 10,000 laptops for Ukrainians doctors provided on 26 July 2022.[120]
- Help in mine clearance with the involvement of French specialists and equipment, training of Ukrainian to mine clearance of body water reported after a conference between the head of Chernihiv Oblast Military Administration Viacheslav and representatives of the French Embassy in Ukraine on 16 August 2022.[121]
- Dispatch of a new team of experts from the National Gendarmerie Criminal Research Institute (IRCGN) to investigate Russian war crimes in Izium on 27 September 2022.[122]
- 1,000 t (980 long tons; 1,100 short tons) of humanitarian goods (15 fire and rescue vehicles, 8 motorized semi-rigid watercraft, 19 tons of rescue, clearing and protective equipment, 25 tons of emergency medicine, 1 medical vehicle equipped with a mobile radiology device for carrying out examinations in the field, 60,000 food rations, 48 tons of prepared meals, 13 tons of milk, 5 generators, building materials, tarpaulins, 200 meters of emergency bridges including 3 prefabricated “Bailey” type bridges purchased from Cerema and 3 modular metal bridges purchased from the French company Matière) delivered on 28 September 2022.[123]
- 100 high-powered generators (with a power of 50 to 100KWA) delivered on 23 November 2022.[124]
- 1 mobile DNA-analysis laboratory (the second one) delivered to Ukraine on 9 May 2023.[125][126]
France was the largest arms exporter to Ukraine between 2014 and 2020 with over €1.6 billion worth of weapons provided.[154] Among them were: helicopters, reconnaissance drones, navy-related weapons and equipment, targeting systems, ammunition of various calibers and fire control systems.
The full extent of French military aid in the context of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine is unknown as many specifics are neither shared by France nor Ukraine but include:
Intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance support
- Intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance support, including ongoing access to French satellite imagery (various French electromagnetic and observation satellites such as the CERES, CSO, Pleiades and Helios provide intel several times a day to the Ukrainian military staff)[155] and a few dozens agents from the DGSE‘s Action Division deployed on the ground since the beginning of the war.[172][173]
Air defence systems
- 1 SAMP/T battery (joint-donation with Italy) [May 2023][174][175]
- 2 Crotale NG batteries [November 2022][176]
- Acquisition of a complete short-range air defense system from Thales, including a Ground Master 200 radar, command and control center, radio communications system and air threat designation terminals (purchased through the French military fund) [To be delivered][177][178]
Multiple rocket launchers
Self-propelled artillery
- 30 155mm 6×6 CAESAR howitzers [delivered from May 2022 onwards] (delivered along with tens of thousands of shells, including LU 211 HE shells, BONUS munitions and Ralec proximity fuzes).[179]
Towed artillery
- 15+ 155mm TRF1s [October 2022] (Purchased by Ukraine through the security capacity building fund).[180]
Mortars
Armoured fighting vehicles
Armoured personnel carriers
Infantry mobility vehicles
- 20 ACMAT Bastions [To be delivered] (Purchased by Ukraine via the French military fund).[185]
Other military vehicles
- Renault TRM 2000 trucks [August and September 2022].[176]
- Renault GBC 180 all-terrain 6X6 cargo trucks [Before October 2022].[176]
- Peugeot P4 off-road vehicles [July and August 2022].[176]
Engineering equipment
- Motorised floating bridges [To be delivered] (Purchased by Ukraine via the French military fund).[166]
Man-portable air defense systems
Anti-tank guided missiles
- MILAN systems [March 2022].[186]
- FGM-148 Javelin systems [March 2022].[155]
- Akeron MPs [Delivered before February 2023].[176]
Anti-tank mines
Radars
- Unknown number of Ground Master 200 radars [To be delivered].[176]
Small arms
Ammunition
- Ammunition of various calibers (12.7mm ammunition, 155mm artillery rounds, etc.).[176]
- OF 37 HE hand grenades [May 2022].[176]
Individual equipment[166][187][188][155][176][189]
- Helmets
- “Protective equipment”
- Bulletproof vests
- Uniforms
- De-mining suits
- Over 100,000 combat rations
- Army medical kits
Miscellaneous equipment
France was the largest arms exporter to Ukraine between 2014 and 2020 with over €1.6 billion worth of weapons provided.[154] Among them were: helicopters, reconnaissance drones, navy-related weapons and equipment, targeting systems, ammunition of various calibers and fire control systems.
The full extent of French military aid in the context of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine is unknown as many specifics are neither shared by France nor Ukraine but include:
- Defense equipment donated before the Russian invasion and pre-war training of Ukrainian troops.[155]
- Additional delivery of defense equipment to the Ukrainian authorities announced on 26 February 2022[156][157]
- Additional weapons to Ukraine announced on 13 April 2022, by the French Defense Minister.[158]
- On 30 April 2022, President Macron pledged an increase in military support to Ukraine[159] and reiterated on 17 May 2022 that weapon deliveries would continue and would intensify in the days and weeks to come.[160][161]
- Lecornu also added the supply of batteries of Exocet anti-ship missiles to help open gaps in the maritime blockade imposed by Russia and allow Ukraine to resume its exports of grain and raw materials, was among the further weapons deliveries being examined.[162][163]
- French contribution to the European Peace Facility Fund (a €500 million contribution out of a total of €3 billion as of December 2022)[164][165]
- On October 13, 2022, the creation of a French special military fund, totaling €200 million, was inked. It will allow Ukraine to purchase military equipment it desires from French defense contractors.[166][167]
- On October 15, 2022, it was announced France would be training up to 2,000 Ukrainian soldiers on its soil. They will be assigned to French units for several weeks.[166][168]
- On 4 January 2023, President Emmanuel Macron promised President Zelenskyy AMX-10 RC and ACMAT Bastion to Ukraine. This is the first time Ukraine has received “Western tanks” according to the French government.[169]
- On 31 January 2023, it was announced France will also send 150 military personnel to Poland to train up to 600 Ukrainian troops per month.[170][171]
Intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance support
- Intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance support, including ongoing access to French satellite imagery (various French electromagnetic and observation satellites such as the CERES, CSO, Pleiades and Helios provide intel several times a day to the Ukrainian military staff)[155] and a few dozens agents from the DGSE‘s Action Division deployed on the ground since the beginning of the war.[172][173]
Air defence systems
- 1 SAMP/T battery (joint-donation with Italy) [May 2023][174][175]
- 2 Crotale NG batteries [November 2022][176]
- Acquisition of a complete short-range air defense system from Thales, including a Ground Master 200 radar, command and control center, radio communications system and air threat designation terminals (purchased through the French military fund) [To be delivered][177][178]
Multiple rocket launchers
Self-propelled artillery
- 30 155mm 6×6 CAESAR howitzers [delivered from May 2022 onwards] (delivered along with tens of thousands of shells, including LU 211 HE shells, BONUS munitions and Ralec proximity fuzes).[179]
Towed artillery
- 15+ 155mm TRF1s [October 2022] (Purchased by Ukraine through the security capacity building fund).[180]
Mortars
Armoured fighting vehicles
Armoured personnel carriers
Infantry mobility vehicles
- 20 ACMAT Bastions [To be delivered] (Purchased by Ukraine via the French military fund).[185]
Other military vehicles
- Renault TRM 2000 trucks [August and September 2022].[176]
- Renault GBC 180 all-terrain 6X6 cargo trucks [Before October 2022].[176]
- Peugeot P4 off-road vehicles [July and August 2022].[176]
Engineering equipment
- Motorised floating bridges [To be delivered] (Purchased by Ukraine via the French military fund).[166]
Man-portable air defense systems
Anti-tank guided missiles
- MILAN systems [March 2022].[186]
- FGM-148 Javelin systems [March 2022].[155]
- Akeron MPs [Delivered before February 2023].[176]
Anti-tank mines
Radars
- Unknown number of Ground Master 200 radars [To be delivered].[176]
Small arms
Ammunition
- Ammunition of various calibers (12.7mm ammunition, 155mm artillery rounds, etc.).[176]
- OF 37 HE hand grenades [May 2022].[176]
Individual equipment[166][187][188][155][176][189]
- Helmets
- “Protective equipment”
- Bulletproof vests
- Uniforms
- De-mining suits
- Over 100,000 combat rations
- Army medical kits
Miscellaneous equipment
- Fuel [March/April and September 2022].[166][155][176]
- Electro-optical/Infra-red systems (including night detection binoculars ordered from Thales and Safran and delivered in late March or early April 2022).[190][176]
- 36 prefabricated bridges from 23 to 46 meters in length.[191]
Training
- Over 6,000 Ukrainian soldiers trained in the first eight months of 2023.[192]
Financial aid
- In 2021: €1.6 billion in aid.[193]
- In 2022:
- Donations:
- Financial donation of €300 million (US$337 million) in “additional budgetary assistance” announced by President Macron on 25 February.[194][195]
- On 5 May, President Macron announced $1.7 billion were donated to Ukraine so far in 2022.[196][197]
- Additional financial aid of US$300 million announced on 5 May, bringing the total to US$2 billion.[196][197]
- In October 2022, France announced the creation of a special fund, totaling €200 million, for direct weapon purchases.[198][199][200]
- Loans:
- €1.2 billion in programme funding announced on 8 February 2022, consisting of a loan of €200 million and €1 billion in financial guarantees (these guarantees will allow Ukraine to obtain loans from French banks on favorable terms).[201][202]
- Announcement of a budgetary loan of €300 million on 29 March 2022 in order to help the country cope with the economic and social consequences of the ongoing conflict.[203][204]
- Donations:
- Further French financial contributions to Ukraine via the European Union‘s grants and loans since 2014.
- French contributions to the European Union‘s military aid.[158]