France is now providing two-thirds of the intelligence Ukraine needs in its war with Russia, President Emmanuel Macron said, overtaking the United States as Kyiv’s main source of intelligence support.
Washington briefly suspended intelligence sharing with Ukraine in March as part of efforts to pressure Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to cooperate with President Donald Trump's bid to convene peace talks with Russia.
In his New Year's address to the French military on Thursday, Macron said that France was now providing Ukraine with the bulk of the intelligence capabilities it needed in the war.
“Whereas a year ago Ukraine was overwhelmingly dependent on American intelligence capabilities, today two-thirds are provided by France,” he said at the Istres air base in south-eastern France.
Macron also praised Europe’s role over the past two years in taking over major parts of weapons support for Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.
The 34 countries of the Coalition of the Willing are financing “100 percent” of the resources granted to Kyiv, including financial support, Macron said.
He added that this followed Washington’s decision to stop funding or directly supplying weapons to Ukraine.
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No confirmation from Ukraine
Macron’s comments contrast with remarks made by Kyrylo Budanov, who was appointed head of Zelensky’s office and previously led Ukraine’s military intelligence.
In December, Budanov said Kyiv remained critically dependent on Washington for intelligence, including satellite imagery and early warning systems for ballistic missile launches.
Ukraine’s GUR military intelligence agency declined to comment.
A French defence ministry official also declined to comment directly on the president’s claims, but said much of the intelligence France provides is technical in nature.
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US role still significant
Despite strained relations between Washington and Kyiv, there has been no indication that the United States has sharply reduced its intelligence support for Ukraine.
When Washington suspended intelligence sharing in 2025, France’s then defence minister Sebastien Lecornu, now prime minister, said the move would have a significant operational impact on Ukraine.
He added that France’s intelligence support for Kyiv did not rely on Washington.
(with newswires)
