EU could ban sale of components for drones and other weapons

A European Commission spokesperson suggested 'keeping a close eye on foreign operators that are re-exporting EU-sanctioned goods without the knowledge of the EU exporter'

Firefighters at a research institute, part of Ukraine's National Academy of Science, after a strike by drones in northwestern Kyiv in March 2022. Photo: Fadel Senna/AFP via Getty Images

Brussels has warned European companies and governments that it could ban the sale of certain components to Turkey and other countries from where Iran and Russia are sourcing parts for drones and other weapons striking Ukrainian cities.

The comments from the European Commission follow a leak to the Guardian of a 47-page document in which the Ukrainian government detailed the use of western technology and appealed for long-range missiles to attack drone production sites in Russia, Iran and Syria.