France is pushing to limit the duration of exemptions allowing Ukraine to buy non-European defense equipment with money from the EU’s €90 billion (roughly $105 billion) Ukraine Support Loan.Under the exemptions, Kyiv is allowed to procure Chinese drone components and urgently needed US-made Patriot interceptors to deter Russian ballistic missiles. The rules, however, require most defense spending under the program to go to suppliers in the EU or European Economic Area, according to Euronews on Tuesday, Aug. 25.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official.“We continue to stress that the swift approval of product schedules is crucial, including through the pragmatic use of the derogation for the purchase of materiel produced by third countries,” defense ministers from nine EU countries wrote in a July letter to EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius – advocating for Ukraine to continue having maximum flexibility in procuring equipment in needs to defend itself.France pushes for EU procurementThe package includes €30 billion (approx. $35 billion) in economic support and €60 billion (about $70 billion) in military assistance, and it was approved by EU member states in April for 2026-27.Initially, the EU released €3.9 billion (roughly $4.6 billion) for drones in June, followed by €6.1 billion (around $7.1 billion) for defense procurement earlier in August, Euronews reported.Under the program, defense purchases Ukraine makes using the EU funds cannot have more than 35% of their total cost sourced outside the bloc.