The relationship between French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has evolved into a special partnership, marked by symbolic gestures and concrete military cooperation. On July 14, 2026, twenty-five Ukrainian soldiers will march in the Bastille Day parade in Paris, a dream first expressed by Ukraine's ambassador to France in 2023. The parade will also feature two Mirage 2000 fighter jets piloted by French pilots with Ukrainian co-pilots trained in France, showcasing the deepening defense ties between the two nations.