The EU agreed on a plan for the supply of ammunition for 1 billion euros for Ukraine
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The Council of the European Union approved a program for the supply of shells for the Ukrainian army for 1 billion euros through the European Peace Fund. About it reported press service of the European Council.
“With today’s decision, we are putting into effect the first part of a historic agreement reached by EU leaders to support the immediate delivery of €1 billion worth of artillery ammunition to the Ukrainian armed forces. [ВСУ]”, – said the head of the foreign policy of the European Union, Josep Borrell.
It is clarified that Member States will be reimbursed for the cost of ammunition transferred to the Armed Forces of Ukraine from existing stocks or by changing order priorities between February 9 and May 31 this year.
In late March reported on plans for joint purchases by EU countries of a million 155 mm artillery shells for Ukraine for a total amount of about 2 billion euros.
Later, April 12, Polish Press Agency (PAP) reportedthat France is the only EU member state that blocks the allocation of funds for the purchase of ammunition for the Ukrainian army.
On February 20, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that the consumption of shells in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict exceeds the industrial capabilities of Western allies, and delays in obtaining large-caliber ammunition have increased from 12 to 24 months. In this regard, he called on European countries to increase the production of ammunition.
Now the total amount of military assistance to Ukraine from the Peace Fund has reached 4.6 billion euros.
The Russian authorities have repeatedly criticized the supply of Western weapons to the Ukrainian army. In particular, the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, warned that pumping Ukraine with weapons brings NATO closer to the dangerous line of a direct military clash with Russia. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov noted that the supply of long-range weapons would only expand the geography of the special operation.
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