Politico and La Stampa reported on 16/7, citing French officials, that France has declined to participate in a NATO initiative to purchase US arms for Ukraine. President Emmanuel Macron is promoting European defense industry growth through domestic arms procurement.
France also faces budget constraints and rising defense spending targets amid growing economic pressures.
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French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris on 13/6. Photo: AP |
French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris on 13/6. Photo: AP
Informed sources indicate Italy shares a similar stance. Italian officials have ruled out direct arms purchases from the US, citing financial limitations and their focus on co-production technologies with France, such as the SAMP/T long-range air defense system already provided to Ukraine.
Sources at the Italian Ministry of Defense emphasized that this decision shouldn't be seen as a lack of support for Ukraine, but rather a call to explore alternative contributions to the collective effort. Italy appears to be considering NATO's request to help transport US arms to Ukraine and has signaled it "will not shy away" from contributing.
Regarding the plan to buy US weapons for Ukraine, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski argued that the cost of arming Kyiv shouldn't fall on European citizens, but should be covered by frozen Moscow assets.
Several European countries, including the UK, the Netherlands, and Nordic countries, support the initiative to aid Ukraine with US weapons. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stressed that this initiative serves European interests and increases pressure on Russia to negotiate peace.
US President Donald Trump previously announced an indirect aid plan where NATO members would purchase US weapons and transfer them to Ukraine. The US president has long been dissatisfied with the extent of US involvement in arming Ukraine, despite NATO stating that Europe now bears the primary responsibility.
Ngoc Anh (Politico, La Stampa, Kyiv Independent)
