France pulls back from US weapons aid initiative for Ukraine
Photo: French President Emmanuel Macron (Getty Images)
Efforts to support Ukraine with weapons are intensifying in Europe, but France has decided not to join the initiative to purchase American systems, reports Politico.
The new plan, proposed at the initiative of Germany, provides for the purchase of American weapons for the Armed Forces of Ukraine by European countries.
This gives President Donald Trump political cover and avoids direct confrontation with the isolationist wing of the MAGA movement in the United States.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte officially welcomed the new initiative. He thanked Trump for his “strong leadership,” but behind the scenes of diplomacy, another truth is being told: the key agreements were reached in Berlin, not Washington.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz held a series of talks with allies, including Rutte, and convinced Trump to allow European countries to purchase American weapons.
According to Politico's sources, this scheme allows Trump to look like an ally without changing his isolationist rhetoric. Meanwhile, Berlin, London, the Scandinavian countries, and the Netherlands have already confirmed their readiness to participate in the procurement scheme.
Without France
According to two French officials, Paris will not join the initiative to buy American weapons.
France continues to insist on developing its own military industry, a long-standing idea of President Emmanuel Macron.
One of Kyiv's main requests is for Patriot air defense systems.
According to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, agreements have already been reached between the United States, Germany, and Norway on new deliveries.
US weapons for Ukraine
Hungary has refused to participate in co-financing US weapons for Ukraine. Budapest will provide neither money nor weapons.
American President Donald Trump has been postponing the decision, but recently, the situation has begun to move forward.
Trump said earlier that the United States would send Patriot systems to Ukraine, but the EU would pay for them.
Germany said that it sees "very positive signs" from the United States regarding the sale of air defense systems to Ukraine.
