The Telegraph: France blocks simplified purchase of British Storm Shadow missiles for the Armed Forces

France is opposed to the European Union's plan to simplify the mechanism for purchasing British Storm Shadow cruise missiles for Ukraine. Paris is convinced that the funds should be used to strengthen the bloc's own defense industry, not to meet Kyiv's needs outside the EU. This was reported by The Telegraph, citing an unnamed diplomatic source.

A coalition of 11 EU countries has proposed to ease the rules for using a €90 billion loan to allow Ukraine to buy British weapons. However, France insists that this money should be spent exclusively within the bloc, the newspaper writes.

The current plan for using the loan (two-thirds of which is earmarked for the Ukrainian army) provides for the priority of the European and Ukrainian defense industry over purchases abroad.

However, according to documents obtained by the publication, Ukrainian military officials have estimated that in 2026 they will need €24 billion worth of military equipment from outside the EU:

→ American Patriot air defense systems;

→ PAC-3 interceptor missiles;

→ long-range missiles – the EU countries are currently unable to provide them in the required quantity.

Coalition representatives identified the British Storm Shadow as the best option to close this gap. However, according to a diplomatic source, France was a "clear" opponent of these proposals.

Paris's desire for strategic autonomy of the EU and reduced dependence on the United States has escalated amid a diplomatic conflict with the president Donald Trump because of his claims to Greenland, the newspaper writes. France insists that financial assistance to Ukraine should be primarily invested in the European defense industry, putting the bloc's industrial interests above the operational needs of the Armed Forces.

This caused criticism within the EU, as "such an approach could limit Ukraine's ability to repel Russian air strikes."

"The Baltic and Scandinavian countries, as well as Poland, Romania, the Czech Republic and the Netherlands, support the attempt to prevent French influence," the source told The Telegraph.

He added that eight other countries, including Germany, were in favor of a more flexible approach to the UK. However, they have not officially joined the coalition.

• In 2026, Ukraine will start receiving a loan from the European Union by 90 billion eurosis scheduled for two years, but it will happen only in the second quarter.
• In October 2025, Politico reported that most NATO member states had joined the PURL initiative to purchase American weapons for Ukraine, but those that did not have to join faced pressure – including France and Britain.