The European Union is lagging behind in its plan to deliver one million artillery shells to Ukraine by March 2024. It is currently only 30% complete, Bloomberg reports.
The EU has promised to transfer artillery ammunition to Ukraine within 12 months, first using existing stocks, and then through joint procurement contracts and increased industrial capacity.
However, as the publication notes, more than half of this time has passed, but the plan is only 30% complete and, based on the volume of contracts signed to date, it risks not achieving its goal.
According to informed sources, several EU member states have privately asked the bloc's foreign policy department to extend the deadline.
Also, the United States, which aims to increase its own production to about 1 million shells a year in 2024, has called on the EU to step up its efforts.
In addition, it is emphasized that the conflict between Israel and Hamas creates additional risks for the supply of weapons to Ukraine.
"Although the general requirements of Israel and Ukraine for ammunition do not coincide, even the withdrawal of a small number of 155-mm artillery shells from Kyiv, if Israel needs them, matters when their number is so limited," the publication writes.
In addition, the price of shells has reportedly risen since the EU initiative was announced, so the funds allocated for it may not be enough.
The journalists reminded that Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Germany, Poland and the Netherlands intend to collectively supply Ukraine with 300-400 thousand ammunition. In addition, Finland, Denmark and Sweden have placed orders worth 52 million euros. But production will begin in 2024.
