A Mirage 2000 fighter jet Photo: VCG

Ukrainian media the New Voice of Ukraine, citing a report by French air defense industry site Avions Legendaires, stated on Sunday that Ukraine's Air Force is set to receive its first three Dassault Aviation Mirage 2000-5F fighter jets from France in January. 

The first three jets could arrive by January 20, 2025, with some sources even speculating they are already in Ukraine and are being used for training flights. Around 10 aircraft of this type are expected to be delivered, according to the New Voice of Ukraine.

Dassault Aviation Mirage 2000-5F fighter jets could enhance Ukraine's ground attack capabilities but will have limited effectiveness in air combat, Zhang Junshe, a Chinese military expert, told the Global Times. He said the aircraft is equipped with modern avionics and radar systems, and is capable of carrying SCALP-EG stealth cruise missiles and Hammer precision-guided bombs.

However, Western supplies of fighter jets and missiles are still falling short of Ukraine's needs, Zhang noted, adding that diverse weapon systems from multiple countries strain Ukraine's logistics, as different jets require specific parts and maintenance expertise.

Sun Xiuwen, an associate professor at the Institute for Central Asian Studies at Lanzhou University, shares the same view. Sun said that while Western aid has strengthened Ukraine's combat capabilities, issues with quantity, logistics and training limit its overall effectiveness, making it difficult to decisively change the course of the conflict.

Western states are tiring in their support for Ukraine and increasingly hoping for some form of conflict resolution, Finland's foreign minister warned previously, according to a Financial Times report in October 2024.

Sun noted that public support for long-term aid in Europe is waning, potentially weighing on future assistance, and a new US government would also bring significant uncertainty. 

US President-elect Donald Trump previously said it was "stupid" for Biden to let Ukraine use American long-range weapons to strike deeper into Russian territory, according to AP news on December 16, 2024.

Trump also said that Ukraine should "probably" prepare to receive less aid from the US, according to an interview with NBC on December 8, 2024. 

Ukraine has launched a fresh offensive in Russia's Kursk region, according to the Russian Defense Ministry. Officials in Ukraine have also suggested an operation is under way, BBC reported on Sunday.

Russian units have repelled two Ukrainian counterattacks over 24 hours in the borderline Kursk Region, the TASS reported, citing the Russian Defense Ministry.