Because of production delays in the European Union, Prague is calling for nearly half of the promised million shells to be bought outside the bloc.
The Czech Republic is offering the European Union to buy ammunition for Ukraine outside of Europe after learning that the EU can only provide half of the promised million shells on time. Politico reported this, citing sources.
About a year ago, the EU promised to deliver one million shells by March 2024. However, the EU recently announced that Ukraine will receive 524,000 shells in March, and only 1.1 million by the end of the year.
“Frustrated by the shortage, Prague is pushing EU countries to finance the purchase of what it estimates are 450,000 artillery shells available outside the bloc,” Politico quoted its sources as saying.
When the EU planned military aid in early 2023, France – the bloc’s defense industry leader – insisted that subsidies be focused only on local production and not transferred abroad.
The Czech initiative increases the possibility that Europe will turn to the arms companies of South Korea, Turkey and South Africa. The EU’s chief diplomat, Josep Borrell, emphasized that South Korea, a major arms manufacturer, could be used to obtain additional shells.
A diplomat told Politico that the 450,000 rounds figure was announced at an informal meeting of EU defense ministers in Brussels on Wednesday. The next day, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala told his colleagues that the shells could be sourced outside the EU to help the bloc fulfill its pledge.
Earlier, European Commissioner Thierry Breton said that the EU has significantly increased the production of ammunition and will increase this capacity to 1 million ammunition per year in March and to 2 million in 2025.
Kuleba reacted to the EU’s delay with shells
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Source: korrespondent
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.