Trump's June war ultimatum drops, Macron forces Starmer to pay up £2bn for Ukraine weapons access

France is reportedly demanding Britain pay up to £2 billion to gain access to the European Union’s massive new Ukraine weapons procurement scheme, exposing fresh fractures inside Europe over how military aid should be structured. Backed by a €90 billion EU loan package, the program is designed to keep Ukraine armed and financially stable against Russia’s grinding invasion. Paris argues EU money must prioritize European defense industries and strategic autonomy, while countries like Germany and the Netherlands oppose restricting access to key non-EU suppliers such as the UK.