Disagreements have escalated in the European Union over the use of a joint loan facility to purchase weapons for Ukraine, including British-made Storm Shadow missiles. France has opposed the relaxation of rules that would allow Kyiv to buy weapons outside the EU, The Telegraph reports.
According to the newspaper, Paris insists that the funds of the new defense financial instrument should be spent exclusively within the European Union, with priority given to the European defense industry. It is because of this position that France did not support the initiative to simplify the procurement of British Storm Shadow cruise missiles for Ukraine.
It is a EUR 90 billion loan, a significant part of which is intended to finance the supply of weapons to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. According to the current rules, two-thirds of the funds should be used for purchases from EU and Ukrainian manufacturers, which significantly limits the possibility of purchasing weapons outside the Union.
The Telegraph notes that a coalition of 11 EU countries has called for an easing of these restrictions so that Ukraine can buy British weapons with the loan.
"A coalition of 11 EU countries has proposed relaxing rules allowing official Kyiv to use a EUR 90 billion loan to buy British weapons. However, France wants the money to be spent within the EU," the article says.
According to the documents reviewed by the publication, Ukraine estimates the need for weapons produced outside the EU at EUR 24 billion in 2026.
"This figure mostly refers to the supply of American Patriot air defense systems and PAC-3 interceptors, but long-range missiles were identified as another need that European countries may not be able to meet," The Telegraph writes.
In this context, Storm Shadow missiles were seen as a potential solution. The authors of the initiative proposed a four-tiered system of priorities that would allow the UK to take a higher position in the procurement chain if it was ready to quickly meet Ukraine's needs. However, France rejected this idea.
According to a diplomatic source, Paris' position is linked to the EU's policy of strategic autonomy.
"Paris is at the center of efforts to ensure the EU's strategic autonomy from its allies, mainly the United States, due to the breakdown of relations with President Donald Trump over his threats to seize Greenland," the publication notes.
This approach has already drawn criticism from EU partners, as they believe it could limit Ukraine's ability to counter air attacks.
"The attempt to prevent French influence is supported by the Baltic and Scandinavian countries, as well as Poland, Romania, the Czech Republic and the Netherlands," the source told The Telegraph.
He also added that eight other countries, including Germany, have called for a more flexible approach to the UK, but have not officially joined the coalition.
We would like to remind you that German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said that Berlin no longer has the opportunity to transfer Patriot systems from its warehouses to Ukraine, as the country has already made a "disproportionate contribution", giving more than a third of its own arsenal.
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