The British newspaper, The Telegraph, reported that Paris and Berlin had sold Moscow $295 million worth of military equipment, including bombs and missiles, likely to be used in Ukraine.

The newspaper said in an exclusive report that it obtained a European analysis that revealed that France and Germany sent equipment including bombs, missiles and artillery to Moscow despite the European Union-wide embargo on arms shipments to Russia, which was imposed in the wake of the annexation of Crimea in 2014.

She pointed out that the European Commission was forced this month to remedy a loophole in the provisions of its ban after it was found that at least 10 member states of the European Union exported military equipment worth more than $377 million to the regime of Vladimir Putin. About 78% of this total was provided by German and French companies.

Strong criticism of Berlin and Paris

German Chancellor Olaf Schulz faced criticism this week for his reluctance to supply heavy weapons to Ukraine, and French President Emmanuel Macron's efforts to negotiate with Putin led to accusations of appeasement.

Both Paris and Berlin have resisted an EU ban on gas purchases from Russia, which currently pays Russia $1078 million per day for energy supplies.

Criticism intensified when German companies appeared to have used a loophole in the European Union's ban on arms exports to Russia, carrying out $137 million in sales of "dual-use" equipment, including rifles and special protection vehicles, to Moscow.

Berlin has defended its use of ambiguity within the 2014 European Union arms embargo, insisting that the goods were only sold after the Kremlin confirmed they were for civilian use, not military use.

It also emerged that France was responsible for sending $164 million in shipments to Russia, as part of 76 export licenses.

Paris allowed exporters to fulfill contracts agreed before 2014, using "back door" technology in the European Union embargo.

Bombs, missiles, torpedoes and thermal cameras

In addition to bombs, missiles and torpedoes, French companies have sent thermal imaging cameras to more than a thousand Russian tanks and navigation systems for combat aircraft and attack helicopters.


Since the start of the Russian war on Ukraine on February 24, the European Union has imposed more restrictions on the export of dual-use items to Moscow, which has bridged the gap.

The loophole was finally closed on April 8, and that was only after protests escalated from the Baltic states and eastern member states.

Envoys from Poland and Lithuania made sure the original 2014 arms embargo text had been amended when it emerged that arms were still flowing into Russia.

stupid crime

The Telegraph quoted former British Admiral Lord West as saying that using loopholes to avoid the arms embargo imposed by the European Union on Russia after the invasion of Crimea is a stupid crime.

For his part, a senior source in the European Union said that "it is time for France and Germany to wake up and see the facts as they are."

The newspaper quoted Christian Terheis, a Romanian member of the European Parliament, who participated in the analysis of the European Union, as saying, "While Ukraine is crying out loud for weapons to defend itself from Putin's invasion, Germany and France are silent, but they were happy enough to sell their wares to Moscow." shamefully quiet."

In addition to Germany and France, Italy was responsible for sending $24 million in arms to Moscow after the European embargo, while Britain carried out $2.7 million in sales.

Austria, Bulgaria and the Czech Republic exported $53 million worth of arms to Russia between 2015 and 2022.