French President Emmanuel Macron’s promise of 100 Rafales to Ukraine isn’t just about weapons deals and fighter jets, there’s a “dual purpose”: it’s about reclaiming agency and moral momentum in a fractured geopolitical landscape. All the while, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky is grappling with deepening corruption scandals, as Russia intensifies its ruthless attacks, any diplomatic wins provide lifelines. Peter Zalmayev, Director of the Eurasia Democracy Initiative, says that this was ‘clearly a successful visit’. Mr. Zalmayev offers deep insight into how Europe’s shifting alliances and Ukraine’s internal reckonings are shaping a broader narrative: one of resilience under pressure, as the future of European unity hangs in the balance.