TSAMTO, March 2. The European Commission has developed a plan to multiply the production of artillery shells, in particular the 155-mm caliber standard for NATO, for further transfer to Ukraine and in order to replenish the reserves of the troops of the alliance countries.
This, as RIA Novosti reports, was reported on March 1 by the publication Spiegel.
"The first fundamental part of the plan provides for an immediate increase in the supply of ammunition to Ukraine, especially 155-mm artillery shells," writes the publication, whose possession was a document that will be submitted for discussion in the European Commission on March 2.
According to the publication, for these purposes, the head of EU diplomacy, Josep Borrel, will soon offer an additional package of military support to Ukraine in the amount of 1 billion. euro.
"The second part provides for the joint purchase of 155 mm ammunition by the European Defense Agency (EDA) in order to fill gaps in the stocks of EU countries and ensure the supply of Ukraine in the long term," Spiegel reports.
The third fundamental point of the plan should, according to the publication, ensure a long-term increase in European ammunition production capacity, taking into account the changed security situation.
Meanwhile, the situation around the supply of ammunition to Kiev is now even more "difficult" than last fall, Spiegel notes with reference to a document in which, according to the publication, this is emphasized several times.
"Russia produces from 20 to 60 thousand artillery shells a day, which is about ten times more than from Ukraine. However, the European defense industry can only produce from 20 to 25 thousand shells per month," the publication claims.
According to the document, this number can be increased seven times, and this year the EU has enough production capacity to produce up to one million 155-mm artillery shells worth 4 billion. euro, RIA Novosti notes.
