France blocks EU plan to let Ukraine buy British Storm Shadow missiles
Photo: Storm Shadow missiles (Getty Images)
Disagreements have intensified within the European Union over the use of a European loan for Ukraine’s military purchases, particularly regarding the procurement of weapons outside the EU, according to The Telegraph.
France opposed easing the rules that would allow Ukraine to use a European loan to purchase British-made weapons, insisting that funds from the new financial instrument should be spent exclusively within the EU, with priority given to the European defense industry.
According to The Telegraph, citing documents from the EU’s new defense plan, Paris did not support an initiative to simplify the procurement of British Storm Shadow cruise missiles for Ukraine under the €90 billion loan, a large share of which is intended to finance arms supplies for the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
EU disputes
The report said a coalition of 11 EU countries had proposed loosening existing restrictions to allow Kyiv to buy British weapons using the loan, but France wanted the money to be spent inside the bloc. Under current rules, two-thirds of the funds must go to European and Ukrainian manufacturers, limiting purchases outside the EU.
Ukraine's needs and dispute over Storm Shadow missiles
Documents seen by The Telegraph indicated that Ukraine estimates it will need €24 billion worth of military equipment produced outside the EU in 2026, largely for US-made Patriot air defense systems and PAC-3 interceptors, while long-range missiles were also identified as a key unmet need.
In this context, Storm Shadow missiles were considered a possible solution, with proponents suggesting a four-tier priority system that would give the UK a higher place in the procurement chain if it could meet Ukraine’s needs.
Political motives & critique
A diplomatic source said France rejected the idea, arguing for the EU’s strategic autonomy. The newspaper noted that Paris was leading efforts to reduce dependence on allies, particularly the US, amid strained relations with President Donald Trump.
The stance has drawn criticism within the EU, with Baltic and Nordic states, as well as Poland, Romania, Czechia, and the Netherlands, reportedly backing attempts to curb French influence. The source added that eight more countries, including Germany, favored a more flexible approach toward the UK but had not formally joined the coalition.
France, the report recalled, has not joined the US-led PURL initiative to supply weapons to Ukraine, while saying it is ready to provide support through other mechanisms and stressing the need to strengthen the EU’s own defense capabilities.
France plans to hold large-scale Orion-26 military exercises lasting nearly three months, involving forces from around two dozen countries, with the active phase beginning on Feb. 8 and running through late April.
