The drive, initiated by lawmaker Frédéric Petit, former military pilot and analyst Xavier Tytelman, and political-communication professor Philippe Moreau-Chevrolet, calls on France to lead the effort. Petit said the plan is meant to avert in Ukraine what happened in Grozny and Aleppo, adding: “We must draw a red line for Putin and show that he cannot do this in Ukraine.”
Military expert and early signatory Aurelien Duchene said about 20 combat aircraft would be enough to shield western and central Ukraine. The blueprint also foresees one air-defense artillery battery in each larger Ukrainian city.
Duchene said France could implement the plan “on paper,” though it would limit other missions, and that it was prepared after consultations with French military officers.
Backers argue the risks of open confrontation with Russia are low because the protected airspace would sit roughly 200 km from the front, reducing chances of direct clashes. They frame SkyShield as part of future security guarantees for Ukraine, saying it would “protect Ukrainians, free Ukrainian military resources and send a firm signal to Russia.”
They add that “mobilizing just 120 European aircraft” could yield greater military, political and socio-economic effect than “10,000 European ground troops.”
Supporters say air patrols could complement the “Coalition of the Willing” discussion on sending troops to Ukraine. Governments have floated figures in the tens of thousands, well below the 200,000 Kyiv says would provide real protection, the petitioners note.
Poland and Romania would play a central role by hosting the aircraft, which would scramble when Ukrainian cities come under attack. That aligns with Poland’s defense ministry view that Warsaw will provide logistics, including airports, as part of security guarantees for Ukraine, Deputy Defense Minister Paweł Zalewski told PAP in late August.
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Source: PAP