35 years of Ukraine’s independence

On 24 August 1991, Ukraine proclaimed its independence.

35 years later, this date resonates strongly. Since 24 February 2022, the Ukrainian people have been facing a war of aggression which is continuing with daily Russian strikes on its territory and population.

Despite the destruction and challenges, Ukraine continues to hold out. Its population and armed forces are showing remarkable determination, courage and resistance to defend their country.

The sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine are non-negotiable. France does not recognize the illegal annexing of Ukrainian territories by Russia.

Diplomacy in action

With its partners, France is taking action to support Ukraine, maintain international mobilization in favour of Ukraine and prepare the conditions for a just and lasting peace.

It co-chairs the Coalition of the Willing alongside the United Kingdom, a coalition bringing together 35 countries with the goal of providing Ukraine with robust, lasting security guarantees.

France is also continuing its dialogue with the United States and its European partners so that Europeans may be fully involved in the discussions affecting their security and the future of Ukraine.

The Coalition of the Willing is a political initiative launched on 17 February 2025 by France and the United Kingdom, and today brings together 35 countries, mainly European but not exclusively so.

The Coalition is preparing the implementation of security guarantees for Ukraine, which would be effective once a ceasefire is reached. This includes:

a multinational reassurance force, ready to operate in the air, on land and at sea

continuous support to the Ukrainian armed forces.

Its aim is to strengthen international support for Ukraine in the face of the Russian aggression and prepare the conditions for a just and lasting peace.

Support from France and the European Union for Ukraine

In the very first weeks of the invasion, France supplied weapons and protective equipment. It then supported the build-up of Ukrainian capabilities with armoured vehicles, Caesar howitzers, air defence systems, radar systems and missiles. France has always wanted to provide "complete round" assistance, meaning a weapon or system delivered with ammunition, and training on its use, and maintenance.

It has also supplied Mirage 2000-5 combat aircraft, the first of which were delivered in early 2025.

Furthermore, France participated in the training and full equipping of a Ukrainian brigade, baptized "Anne of Kyiv". Meanwhile, the European Union has trained more than 90,000 Ukrainian soldiers since 2022 as part of the EUMAM Ukraine mission. France takes part in this training effort.

In November 2025, during President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's visit to Paris, France and Ukraine also signed a declaration of intent on the acquisition of new French military equipment, namely Rafale fighter aircraft, air defence systems, munitions and drones.

Unprecedented European mobilization

French support is part of a wider support effort by the European Union and its Member States.

Since the beginning of the Russian aggression, the EU and its Member States have provided Ukraine with more than €200 billion in assistance, particularly for its economy, population, health system, infrastructures and defence.

In 2024, the European Union set up a Ukraine Facility for €50 billion, an instrument that aims to support Ukraine until 2027, particularly its reconstruction and necessary reforms for its accession to the European Union.

In 2026, in response to the growing financing needs of Ukraine, a support loan of €90 billion was put in place to provide the country with budgetary and military assistance for the 2026-2027 period. This loan is divided into two segments: around €60 billion for defence and around €30 billion for support to the functioning of the Ukrainian State.

This European solidarity also shows the commitment of the Member States to supporting Ukraine and ensuring the security of the continent.

Solidarity that is felt on the ground

The French Ministry's Crisis and Support Centre injected more than €200 million, which financed more than 50 humanitarian projects in the areas of health, mine clearance, shelters, energy, water, education, preventing and fighting impunity, and the organizing of more than 60 operations sending assistance in kind (medicines, ambulances, generators, rescue and excavation equipment, bridges and building materials, water purification stations, etc.).

Since February 2022, France has organized 35 medical evacuations from Ukraine. These evacuations have made it possible to treat 189 wounded Ukrainian soldiers and 40 Ukrainian children suffering from cancer.

France has also taken in Ukrainian refugees fleeing war. On 18 March 2025, more than 109,000 people had been granted temporary protection in France. More than 20,000 Ukrainian children have joined the French education system and some 2,000 students enrolled in higher education.

French solidarity also includes the fight against impunity. French forensic doctors and gendarmes have been sent to Ukraine to help conduct investigations on crimes committed during the war, particularly in Bucha and the Kharkiv region.

Supporting Ukraine today to prepare for its future

The war also targets infrastructures that are essential to everyday life.

France contributes to international efforts to help Ukraine maintain its power grid and prepare for the coming winter, in the face of Russian strikes on energy installations.

In January 2026, international mobilization enabled the coordination of the delivery of 2,500 generators to Ukraine, 150 of which were financed and delivered by France.

France, holding the G7 Presidency and in liaison with the EBRD, is working to restore Chernobyl's New Safe Confinement, damaged by a Russian drone strike in February 2025.

Helping Ukraine also means taking action for its reconstruction

A French fund of €200 million was created in 2024 to support the reconstruction of essential infrastructure. It has already furthered 19 projects, particularly in the energy sector. This fund was renewed in 2026, with another €71 million earmarked to help French businesses finance part of their projects to rebuild and strengthen Ukraine's critical infrastructures.

As a member and co-founder of the European flagship fund for the reconstruction of Ukraine, with the Commission, Germany, Italy and Poland, France contributes to the development of the investment capital ecosystem in Ukraine and the growth of the most promising local businesses. The Fund raised an initial sum of €220 million in public catalytic capital, with the aim of ultimately generating almost €1 billion in private investments in Ukraine.

French companies are Ukraine's leading foreign employers

Supporting Ukraine also means supporting its accession to the European Union

France firmly supports Ukraine's desire to join the European Union. After being granted candidate status in 2022 and the opening of accession negotiations in 2024, Ukraine has completed further significant steps in 2026.

On 15 June 2026, negotiations began on a first set of topics, focused on the rule of law, fundamental rights and the functioning of democratic institutions, with the opening of Cluster 1 of accession negotiations.

On 14 July 2026, another milestone was reached with the opening of the Cluster 6 accession negotiations on external relations, particularly foreign, security and defence policy.

These advances are particularly significant. They attest to the efforts made by Ukraine to continue reforms despite the ongoing war.

They also reflect the will of the European Union to support Ukraine on its path to accession.

The future of Ukraine is in the European Union. France will continue to support it on this path.

Culture, another form of resistance

Solidarity between France and Ukraine can also be seen through culture.

The Ukraine Season, entitled "Journey to Ukraine", from December 2025 to March 2026, enabled the French public to discover the vibrancy of Ukraine's artistic creation and get to know its culture, heritage, history and society.

Despite the war, Ukraine's artists, writers, creatives and cultural institutions continue to produce and share their art.

Culture is therefore another form of resistance, whereas Russia denies the very existence of a specific Ukrainian culture belonging to the shared European history, and Russian forces deliberately target Ukraine's cultural heritage. The bombardment of the Lavra monastery in Kyiv illustrates these attacks on Ukrainian heritage. By defending its culture, Ukraine is preserving its identity, memory and freedom. Culture also helps bring French and Ukrainian societies together.

Ukraine is also a partner for France

Today, 24 August, a recent gesture of solidarity resonates particularly strongly.

While Ukraine faces Russian strikes every day and mobilizes its forces to protect its territory and population, it decided to show its solidarity and help France.

During the violent fires that raged in the Gironde region, 70 Ukrainian firefighters and 15 vehicles were sent in late July to help combat the forest fires.

France expresses its deep gratitude to the Ukrainian rescuers who worked alongside the French teams.

France will continue to take action with Ukraine and its partners for a just and lasting peace based on compliance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations.

Today, it sends its wishes to the Ukrainian people for peace, freedom and prosperity.