Pistorius: EU misses ammunition target for Ukraine
According to German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, the European Union will miss its target of supplying Ukraine with one million artillery shells by March. "The one million will not be reached, we have to assume that," said Pistorius at a meeting with his EU colleagues in Brussels. Pistorius called on the arms industry to ramp up production.
EU foreign affairs representative Josep Borrell was more cautious. The member states had delivered "more than 300,000" bullets from their army stocks to Ukraine. Further deliveries could only be made through increased arms production, which in turn depended on the financial situation of the EU countries and specific contracts with industry. He called on the member states to put figures on the table.
EU Industry Commissioner Thierry Breton emphasized that the European arms industry had increased its capacities by 20 to 30 percent so that one million shells could be produced by the spring. "This target will be achieved," he said. "Now it is up to the member states to conclude the contracts." He urged the states to live up to their commitment to Ukraine.
In March, the EU decided to provide Ukraine with one million artillery shells within a year. The main focus was on the 155 millimeter caliber, the NATO standard for artillery. However, according to the EU, the more than 300,000 shells supplied also include other calibers and rockets.
- In response to Pistorius' call, several EU countries initiated discussions with their domestic ammunition producers to increase their production rates.
- Despite the EU's goal to supply Ukraine with an 'ammunition target' of one million artillery shells, the actual number produced may not reach the EU-set mark due to financial and contractual constraints.
- If the EU manages to meet its target, Ukrainian troops will be more equipped with necessary ammunition, including 155 millimeter caliber shells, to defend against ongoing conflicts, such as those in Ukraine.
Source: www.ntv.de
