France, Greece and Cyprus have blocked Europe’s purchase of ammunition for Ukraine on the global markets

Paris wants orders to go to European arms manufacturers to justify increasing its own production, Politico reports, citing sources.

Although at the meeting of the Committee on Political and Security Affairs, most EU countries expressed support for allowing EU funds to be used to purchase ammunition produced outside the EU. “By making immediate support for Ukraine secondary to the goal of creating the EU’s defense industry, France exposes itself to accusations of callousness,” the publication writes.

Although earlier sources in Paris said they would not oppose such purchases if the EU failed to deliver the promised one million rounds of ammunition to Ukraine by March. As the EU leadership has already officially stated, this will not happen. Moreover, Ukraine is already using several times fewer rounds than Russia due to a total shortage.