Lithuania urged the European Union to accelerate the steps taken towards an additional joint 155 mm artillery ammunition procurement for Ukraine.
“We have to join the international coalition efforts and supply Ukraine with the equipment it needs as a matter of urgency. We need to speed up delivery of weaponry and ammunition and to allocate additional funds for acquiring 155 mm ammunition. The size of the order has to correspond to Ukraine’s request. The additional funds must become available still in 2023,” said Minister of National Defence Arvydas Anušauskas.
EU Ministers of Defence had an in-depth discussion on the possibility to meet Ukraine’s need for ammunition by increasing the supply from the existing stockpiles and by placing a joint order with the industry to acquire and hand over additional ammunition to Ukraine. The definitive political-level decisions are expected at the upcoming European Council meeting in March.
Minister of Defence of Ukraine Oleksii Reznikov confirmed that ammunition delivery was one of the top priorities on the frontline.
Ministers agreed on three main ammunition acquisition targets: to supply the necessary ammunition to Ukraine at the shortest possible notice, to replenish the military stockpiles of EU member states depleted as a result of assistance to Ukraine, and to support the European defence industry. According to a primary assessment, 15 defence industry companies in 11 member states manufacture ammunition of the right calibre and could take part in such a joint effort.
Photo credit: Johannes Frandsen/ Government Offices of Sweden
