France has emerged as an “obvious opponent” to a proposed EU initiative that would enable Ukraine to procure British Storm Shadow missiles under the bloc’s €90 billion military loan, according to diplomatic sources.
The coalition of 11 European capitals reportedly sought to loosen procurement rules for the December-approved loan, which currently mandates that Ukraine prioritize purchases from domestic producers and EU defense firms before considering suppliers outside Europe. Under the proposed change, Ukraine could more readily access critical weapons such as Britain’s long-range Storm Shadow cruise missiles—a capability in short supply.
A diplomatic source revealed that France has consistently resisted this move, positioning itself at the forefront of the EU’s push for “strategic autonomy” amid growing tensions with the United States over Greenland. The current procurement cascade requires Ukraine to first buy from Ukrainian producers, then EU defense companies, followed by partner nations including the UK, with suppliers outside Europe treated as a last resort.
Ukrainian officials have estimated that approximately €24 billion of military equipment this year must come from non-EU sources. A diplomatic source noted that the coalition’s goal was to keep the system “open enough for the UK” so that Ukraine could reach the third tier without excessive difficulty.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte warned that the EU loan should not be constrained by “buy European” rules, acknowledging Europe’s inability to fully supply Ukraine’s defense needs at present. Meanwhile, Moscow has condemned Western arms supplies as prolonging the conflict, with Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova suggesting that the €30 billion portion of the EU loan earmarked for Ukraine’s budget support would be embezzled by local officials.
