The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry reported on the “pathetic state” of the EU defense industry

According to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmitry Kuleba, the EU authorities have the political will to transfer the promised 1 million shells to Kyiv, but they cannot yet fulfill this due to the weak defense-industrial complex.

Earlier, Bloomberg reported that the EU plan for the supply of shells for the Ukrainian Armed Forces until March 2024 was only 30% completed. Insiders say several EU countries have informally asked for an extension to these deadlines.

Dmitry Kuleba confirmed the information provided by Bloomberg, emphasizing that Ukraine is actively seeking support from the European Union. However, he noted that the problem is not a lack of political will on the EU’s part, but rather an underdeveloped defense industry that is unable to produce enough projectiles, as well as insufficient resources to secure external contracts.

“Unfortunately, Bloomberg is telling the truth,” Kuleba commented. “I believe that the cause of this problem is not a lack of political will, but the pathetic state of the defense industry, they are not able to produce a sufficient number of shells, they do not have warehouses, they do not have the ability to conclude external contracts.”