Germany and France clash over buying US arms with €90B loan to Ukraine
politico.eu • • world
Key Points:
- Germany and the Netherlands oppose France's push to restrict Ukraine's ability to buy U.S. weapons with the EU's €90 billion loan, advocating for more flexibility in Kyiv's defense spending.
- France, led by President Emmanuel Macron, wants to prioritize EU military companies to bolster the bloc's defense industry, even if it limits Ukraine's immediate access to necessary arms.
- Most EU countries support a general "Buy European" clause, but only Greece and Cyprus back France's stricter proposal to limit purchases exclusively to EU firms.
- Germany proposes allowing Ukraine to procure defense equipment from non-EU countries, while the Netherlands suggests earmarking at least €15 billion for foreign weapons not produced quickly enough in Europe.
- The debate highlights
