Several member states of the European Union agreed to suspend sales of weapons to Turkey due to its ongoing military offensive in northeast Syria, although they refrained from imposing a formal bloc-wide arms embargo.

The European Council said Oct. 14 that some EU governments had "immediately" halted arms exports amid Turkey's military action that had "dramatic consequences."

"Member States commit to strong national positions regarding their arms export policy to Turkey," the European Council said in a statement.

The EU countries that had already suspended weapons sales to Turkey include France, Germany, Netherlands, Finland and Sweden, Reuters reported. Spain, Belgium and Italy were also joining the export ban.

"We do not wish to support this war and do not want to make arms available," German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas was quoted as saying by Reuters.

The European Council urged Turkey to withdraw its forces from northeast Syria, warning that its military action would jeopardize regional stability.