France, Nov. 17 -- The accord was signed at the Velizy-Villacoublay airbase some 30 km south-west of Paris.

It sets out possible future contracts for Ukraine to get the jets and their weapons as well as the new generation SAMP-T air defence system under development, radar systems and drones.

The letter of intent, which is not a purchase and sales contract, is projected to be realised "over a timeframe of about 10 years", the French presidency added.

Nearly one million hectares burn as war ravages nature across Ukraine

Zelensky, who has suffered setbacks over the last week due to a corruption scandal at home and Russian forces closing in on the Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk, wrote on social media ahead of the talks that he expected the me...