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The European Union has agreed on a plan to supply Ukraine with a million ammunition. This was stated by Estonian Prime Minister Kaya Kallas following a meeting of EU ministers in Brussels (Belgium). The initiative provides for the supply of artillery shells over the next 12 months for a total of 2 billion euros. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba took part in the talks, FREEDOM reports.
Last week, the EU ambassadors reached a preliminary agreement on the supply of 1 million 155-mm shells to Kyiv – that’s how much Ukraine needs to conduct hostilities. Now, in Brussels, the foreign and defense ministers of the EU countries have agreed on a document that provides for solving the problem of the shortage of ammunition and accelerating the pace of their delivery to Ukraine. The project will involve 18 EU countries. Other allies expressed their willingness to join later. Only Hungary refused to participate.
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell called the agreement reached historic.
“The plan will be implemented in three directions. First, 1 billion euros will be allocated from the European Peace Fund to compensate for the supply of member states. Secondly, the same amount will be directed to the joint purchase of ammunition. And thirdly, the EU states will place orders to increase the production capacity of defense factories,” Borrell wrote on Twitter.
According to European diplomats, the agreement provides that the first shells worth 1 billion euros will be sent to Ukraine by the end of May. Further, it is planned to sign joint contracts by early September, writes France 24. However, according to Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur, the allied countries have yet to agree on a number of details to implement the plan.
“It seems like a good day today. We have reached a political agreement to send 1 million 155mm shells to Ukraine. However, there are still many details to be decided. But it is important for me that we have finally accepted this agreement. And this says one thing – if there is a desire, then there is a way, ”he said.
Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky believes that the new agreement between Western countries will not lead to a further escalation of the war.
“You see the level of Russia’s brutality – the missile strikes that it inflicts on the energy infrastructure that is completely destroyed, the forcible Russification of Ukrainian children. How can this decision of ours lead to further escalation?” he noted.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Berbock said that providing Ukraine with ammunition should become a priority issue in the policy of the European Union:
“Ukraine needs our continued support. In the coming days and weeks, the issue of purchasing ammunition will be central to us. We need to ensure not only supplies that we Europeans can coordinate together, but also joint production. Of course, ammunition and shells for the Cheetahs are also on the agenda in Germany.”
During the meeting, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine called for an increase in the supply of not only artillery ammunition to Kyiv, but also air defense systems, anti-tank systems, long-range and precision weapons and other equipment.
“The highest priority need is artillery ammunition. It is not only about quantity, but also about the speed of deliveries. The faster we get as many shells as possible, the more lives we save. I also urge to strengthen the relevant training programs so that at least ten battalions of the Ukrainian military are constantly in the process of training, ”Kuleba is quoted on the website of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry.
According to the American publication Politico, Western allies are already exploring the possibility of building up the potential of Europe to produce all types of military equipment in the long term.
