France said Thursday it has sent the first of the promised Mirage jet fighters to Ukraine. French President Emmanuel Macron announced in June 2024 that Ukraine would get the jets.

Ukraine said on Thursday it had received a first batch of French Mirage 2000 fighter jets as well as U.S.-made F-16 fighters from the Netherlands as European allies seek to strengthen Kyiv's hand in its war with Russia.

PARIS — Ukraine received the first Mirage 2000 fighter jets promised by France on Thursday, French Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu said, giving the country its second type of Western aircraft in addition to F-16 jets handed over by allies last year.

Ukrainian forces struck an airfield in southern Russia that was being used to launch Iran-designed Shahed drones, Ukraine’s General Staff claimed Thursday, as France said it had delivered a first batch of Mirage fighter jets to Ukraine.

"With Ukrainian pilots trained for several months in France on board, they will now participate in defending Ukraine's sky," French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu said.

The first French Mirage 2000-5 fighter jets promised to Ukraine have been delivered, the French Ministry of Armed Forces confirmed.

Ukraine has repeatedly pressed Western allies to supply it with increasingly sophisticated arms and ammunition. Read more at straitstimes.com.

Sébastien Lecornu said that the first Mirage 2000s are already in Ukraine. He noted that the fighters arrived with pilots trained in France and are r

France delivers Mirage 2000-5 fighter jets to Ukraine to bolster defense against Russia, amid US support concerns.

With Ukrainian pilots on board who have been trained for several months in France, they will now participate in defending the skies of Ukraine,” he wrote without specifying the exact number of aircraft.