EC chief says EU ‘urgently needs to do more’ to provide ammunition to Ukraine
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Providing Ukraine with ammunition is a priority, and the European Union is implementing a program to provide Ukraine with ammunition in three ways, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said while visiting Kyiv on May 9.
Speaking at a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, she said the fastest of the three ways is the immediate transfer of ammunition from the stockpiles of EU member states.
"We have allocated EUR 1 billion ($1.1 billion) for this purpose, and it is working — significant stocks of ammunition have already been transferred or are on their way to Ukraine. But we urgently need to do more," von der Leyen said.
The second way is to allocate EUR 1 billion ($1.1 billion) for the purchase of 155mm and 152mm ammunition for Ukraine.
The third way is to increase and accelerate the production of ammunition by EU member states.
President Zelenskyy thanked the European Union for its readiness to provide Ukraine with one million artillery rounds, but emphasized the need to transfer them to the Defense Forces as soon as possible.
“Every day Ukraine demonstrates the effectiveness of our defense against Russian aggression,” he said. “Every downed terrorist missile, every success of our soldiers in repelling Russian assaults is proof that we can defeat this aggressor.”
Zelenskyy highlighted the importance of Ukraine's capabilities being on par with those of the Russian army.
The European Parliament on May 5 approved the allocation of EUR 1 billion ($1.1 billion) from the European Peace Facility to purchase ammunition and missiles for Ukraine.
The EU Council decided on April 13 to allocate EUR 1 billion ($1.1 billion) to reimburse the costs of the ammunition that EU member states will transfer to Ukraine from their stockpiles from Feb. 9 to May 31, 2023.
EU foreign ministers agreed on March 20 on a plan for joint procurement and supply of ammunition to Ukraine worth EUR 2 billion ($2.2 billion). It provides for the allocation of EUR 1 billion ($1.1 billion) to compensate for supplies to member states, another EUR 1 billion ($1.1 billion) for joint purchases of ammunition, as well as an increase in EU production capacity.
According to the UK newspaper the Financial Times, Ukraine has asked the bloc to send 250,000 artillery rounds to the Ukrainian Armed Forces every month to reduce its ammunition deficit.
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