France and Germany sold arms to Putin

FRANCE and Germany were last night condemned for selling arms to Russia despite an EU ban imposed after Vladimir Putin annexed Crimea in 2014.

The two EU countries have sold more than £230million of weapons to the Kremlin. There are fears they could be used to kill Ukrainians and destroy their cities.

Latest analysis of EU data shows France and Germany sold weapons, including bombs, rockets, missiles and guns, as well as thermal imaging cameras for 1,000 Russian tanks and navigation systems for fighter jets and attack helicopters.

They were among 12 EU states that exploited loopholes in the 2014 sanction scheme, one of which allowed members to sell weapons that were ‘dual-use’ equipment.

The weapons were sold after a reassurance by the Kremlin that the hardware was for civilian use.

Germany sold £102 million of weapons, which included rifles and special protection vehicles. France sold £128 million of weapons, using another loophole that allowed it to ‘fulfil’ contracts signed just before the 2014 sanctions were imposed.

Bob Seeley, a Tory MP and ex-soldier, said: ‘It is very clearly amoral and wretched, but not entirely surprising, given the handwringing approach from both Berlin and Paris. I am embarrassed for them.’

Andrew Bridgen, another Tory MP, said: ‘It is deeply disappointing that two of our Nato allies have been selling huge quantities of arms to Putin’s Russia.’

Germany said it would not have sold the weapons if it had known they would be used by the Russian army, while the French did not comment. The loophole was closed after Russia invaded Ukraine.