France and Italy will not participate in the new NATO initiative to finance American arms deliveries to Ukraine.
The plan, presented on Monday during a meeting between American President Donald Trump and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, involves the purchase of arms from the USA – including air defense systems – by NATO, which will deliver part of the equipment to Ukraine, as reported by Kiev Independent.
France, a traditional supporter of Ukraine, has refused to join this initiative. Two French officials cited by Politico state that the decision is motivated by President Emmanuel Macron's desire to strengthen the European defense industry through purchases of locally produced weapons.
Since January, Emmanuel Macron has warned that the billions of euros from taxpayers' money spent on European military budgets should not be used solely to buy American weapons.
France, with a significant defense industry, has often complained when other EU members have chosen to buy American weapons when French or European alternatives were available.
Additionally, France faces budget constraints and ambitious goals for increasing military spending.
“Our military independence is inseparably linked to our financial independence,” stated Macron on Sunday. “This will be funded through increased activity and production.”
Italy: logistical support, not direct acquisitions
Italy takes a similar stance. La Stampa reports that Italian officials have ruled out direct purchases of American weapons, citing fiscal constraints and a preference for other technological systems – such as the Franco-Italian SAMP/T system, already delivered to Ukraine.
The Italian Ministry of Defense emphasized that this decision should not be interpreted as a reduction in support for Ukraine, but rather as a call to find alternatives.
Rome is currently considering the possibility of providing logistical support for the transport of American weaponry – by air, rail, or sea – and has stated that it "will not shy away" from supporting NATO's overall effort.
Poland: Russia should pay for arms sent to Ukraine
Commenting on the NATO plan, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski stated that it is unacceptable for the bill for American weapons to fall on European taxpayers.
He advocated for using frozen Russian assets for this purpose.
“Who should pay for American equipment? European taxpayers or, in my opinion, the aggressor, from the frozen funds?” – Sikorski said, as quoted by the Polish news agency PAP.
Trump wants to sell us American weapons for Ukraine
After Monday's meeting with the NATO chief, Donald Trump announced that the US has reached an agreement to deliver "state-of-the-art weapons" to NATO, which will then be rapidly distributed on the Ukrainian front.
“Today we have reached an agreement to send weapons, and they will pay for them,” said the American President.
He specified that it is about military equipment worth billions of dollars, produced in the United States and purchased by the North Atlantic Alliance to be used in Ukraine.
The announcement comes just two weeks after the US had suspended certain military shipments to Kiev.