Germany and France at odds over US weapons purchases for Ukraine
Germany and the Netherlands are locked in a diplomatic standoff with France over whether Kyiv should be permitted to use a €90 billion EU loan package to purchase US-made weaponry.
While EU member states reached a broad agreement to support Kyiv during the European Council summit in December, national governments must now negotiate the formal conditions of the financing following a proposal submitted by the European Commission on Wednesday.
The disagreement has sparked tense negotiations with Paris, which is fighting a rearguard action to prevent funds from flowing to Washington amid mounting transatlantic friction. French President Emmanuel Macron remains committed to granting preferential treatment to EU defense firms to bolster the bloc’s industrial base—even if such a policy prevents Kyiv from immediately acquiring the hardware necessary to repel Russian forces.
According to position papers obtained by POLITICO, a majority of member states, led by governments in Berlin and The Hague, argue that Kyiv requires greater flexibility in how it allocates the EU financial package to fund its defense.
These frictions represent the culmination of years of debate over whether Washington should be included in EU defense procurement programs. Divisions have deepened significantly since the administration of former US President Donald Trump, during which the geopolitical landscape became increasingly volatile.
Critics argue that France’s push for a strict “Buy European” clause would effectively tie Kyiv’s hands and compromise its ability to defend itself against Russian aggression.
“Ukraine also urgently needs equipment produced by third countries, particularly US-made air defense systems and interceptors, F-16 ammunition and spare parts, and deep-strike capabilities,” the Dutch government wrote in a letter addressed to other EU member states.
While most countries, including Germany and the Netherlands, support a general “Buy European” principle, several diplomats familiar with the discussions noted that Greece and Cyprus—which currently maintains a neutral stance as it holds the rotating EU Council presidency—are backing the French initiative to restrict the plan to EU firms.
EU leaders agreed last month to issue €90 billion in joint debt to support Ukraine after plans by Belgium and other nations to mobilize frozen Russian state assets stalled. According to two EU diplomats familiar with the talks, more than two-thirds of the Commission’s funds are expected to be earmarked for military expenditures rather than general budgetary support.
With only days remaining before the Commission officially unveils its plan, EU capitals are working to influence its most sensitive components. Germany has broken ranks with France by proposing that procurement be opened to defense companies from non-EU nations.
“Germany does not support proposals to limit third-country procurement to specific products and is concerned that this would impose excessive restrictions on Ukraine’s ability to defend itself,” Berlin wrote in a Monday letter to EU capitals, also seen by POLITICO.
The Netherlands has proposed setting aside at least €15 billion to allow Ukraine to purchase foreign weaponry that is not immediately available within Europe. “The EU defense industry is currently unable to produce equivalent systems or cannot do so within the required timeframe,” the Dutch government stated in its letter.
The French counter-argument holds that Brussels must ensure it extracts maximum value for the European economy from the funds provided to Ukraine. However, detractors insist that strengthening Ukraine’s defense against Russia must take precedence over all other objectives.
“This is very frustrating,” said one EU diplomat. “We are losing sight of the goal, and our goal is not to conduct business.”
Another diplomat suggested that France’s potential veto could be circumvented, as the proposal may be adopted by a simple majority of member states.
A further point of contention involves a secondary German proposal. Despite rejecting the EU preference sought by France, Berlin has suggested that firms from countries providing the highest levels of financial support to Ukraine should receive preferential treatment. Such a rule would favor Berlin, which remains one of Kyiv’s largest individual donors.
“Germany requests that the logic of rewarding strong bilateral support (as proposed by the Commission for third countries) also be applied to member states,” Berlin noted in its letter.
Diplomats view this as a strategic maneuver to support German companies while incentivizing other nations to provide more cash to the war-torn country.