A European analysis revealed that France and Germany armed Russia with 273 million euros in military equipment that is now likely to be used in Ukraine.
The analysis indicated that the equipment, including bombs, missiles and cannons, was sold to Moscow despite the EU-wide embargo on arms shipments to Russia, which was imposed following the 2014 annexation of Crimea, according to a special report conducted by the European Union in cooperation with the Telegraph newspaper. ” British.
Criticism of Germany, which at the beginning of the war was not willing to send arms to Ukraine, increased, when it appeared that German companies had used a loophole in the European Union’s embargo on arms exports to Russia.
Germany has sold millions of euros of equipment
Berlin sold €121m (£107m) of “dual-use” equipment, including guns and special protection vehicles, to Moscow.
Berlin defended this, insisting that the goods or equipment were only sold following the Kremlin confirmed that it was for civilian use, not military use.
Pro-Russian forces (Archyde.com)
In parallel, it was found that France was responsible for sending 152 million euros (£128 million) of 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 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.
It is noteworthy that the European Union imposed more restrictions on the export of dual-use items to Moscow, since the start of the military operation in Ukraine.
Russian Army (AP)
While the loophole in the sanctions was closed only at the end of April 8, and it was not closed until following the protests escalated from the Baltic countries and the eastern member states of the Union.
close the loophole
Envoys from Poland and Lithuania worked to ensure that the original 2014 arms embargo text was amended when it emerged that arms were still flowing into Russia.
EU countries last year sold Russia 39 million euros (£33 million) in arms and ammunition as the Kremlin prepared to enter Ukraine, according to European Commission data.
The Russian army in Ukraine (Archyde.com)
Also, in addition to Germany and France, Italy was responsible for sending arms worth €22.5m (£19m) to Moscow following the European embargo, while Britain generated €2.4m in sales (£2m).
