2023-08-11 22:28:00
This shipment is only the first phase of a plan planned by the European Union, which aims to send one million shells to Ukraine this year.
By NJ with AFP The EU has delivered 223,800 shells to Ukraine as part of the first part of a plan to supply one million artillery shells. (Illustrative image) © MONIKA SKOLIMOWSKA / DPA / dpa Picture-Alliance via AFP Published on 08/11/2023 at 10:28 p.m.
In order to contribute to Ukraine’s war effort, the European Union delivered 223,800 artillery munitions (long-range self-propelled artillery, precision-guided munitions and mortar munitions) and 2,300 missiles of all types in Kyiv, between February 9 and May 31, EU spokesman Peter Stano announced on Friday August 11.
These shipments are part of the first part of a plan to provide one million artillery shells to help Ukraine against Russia. In March, the European Union approved a two-billion-euro plan to send one million 155mm shells to Ukraine from member states’ stocks this year and fund joint ammunition purchases for Kiev.
Ukrainian forces are complaining of an ammunition shortage as they attempt to dislodge Moscow troops from occupied territories, as part of a counter-offensive launched in early June.
Far from the goal of a million shells
Under the first phase of the plan, €1 billion has been earmarked to reimburse EU member states for around half the cost of shells supplied from their existing arsenals. The total value of the ammunition supplied amounts to 1.1 billion euros, according to the EU.
At the end of May, the European Union’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, announced that 200,000 shells had been delivered by that date.
READ ALSOWar in Ukraine: the (meager) progress of the Jeddah summitThe European Union and its member states seem far from having reached the target of one million shells for next spring. In February, several European capitals were skeptical about the ability to supply a million shells.
20 billion euros committed by the European Union
Under the second part of the plan, the EU defense agency is negotiating joint purchase contracts with European manufacturers of 155mm ammunition. The EU “expects framework contracts with industry to be signed in the coming weeks, which will allow member states to place orders from then on.”
Any contract must be concluded before the end of September to fall under the EU supply plan.
READ ALSOVladimir Putin’s cynical cereal blackmailIn total, the European Union and its member states claim to have spent some 20 billion euros supplying arms to Ukraine since the Russian invasion in February 2022.
As of July 25, the United States has pledged more than $43.7 billion to Ukraine in security assistance, according to the Pentagon. On Thursday, the White House asked Congress for an additional $13 billion for new military spending on Ukraine.
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