The European Union is lagging behind the plan to provide ammunition to Ukraine by March, writes "Bloomberg" with reference to its sources.
Under the plan, the EU promised to provide Ukraine with one million artillery pieces within a year — first to use existing stocks, then through joint procurement contracts and increased industrial capacity.
Since then, more than half of the stated time has passed, but the initiative has secured approximately 30% of the planned deliveries. According to "Bloomberg", several EU member states have privately appealed to the blocʼs foreign policy department to extend delivery dates.
The United States, which wants to increase its own production to about a million shells a year in 2024, has called on the European Union to step up its efforts to help Ukraine keep pace with Russian production.
According to "Bloomberg", more than ten countries, including the Baltic states, Germany, the Netherlands and Poland, have already transferred or are planning to jointly transfer approximately 300 000 to 400 000 rounds of ammunition. Delivery will mainly take place within the framework of the EU initiative.
Sweden, Finland, Denmark and non-EU Norway placed orders for $55 million. Production of ammunition under these contracts will begin next year.
- On March 20, EU member states agreed to purchase one million 155 mm ammunition for Ukraine over the next 12 months. On May 5, the Council of the EU approved the allocation of one billion euros in aid for the purchase of 155-mm ammunition and, if necessary, missiles for Ukraine.
- On September 6, the European Defense Agency (EDA) signed the first eight contracts with manufacturers for the joint purchase of 155-mm ammunition. They concern ammunition for the most common self-propelled howitzers, which the EU member states transferred to Ukraine: the French Caesar, the Polish Krab, the German Panzerhaubitze 2000 and the Slovak Zuzana.