The newspaper "Kommersant" in the material of Alexey Zabrodin "Eurosnares are empty. The defense ministers of the EU countries agreed to urgently supply Ukraine with everything they have," she said that the defense ministers of the European Union countries agreed on the need for immediate supplies of artillery ammunition to Ukraine from the remaining stocks in European warehouses. This was announced by the head of EU diplomacy Josep Borrel following an informal meeting of the heads of defense departments in Stockholm. He also presented a plan to jointly solve the problem of the shortage of shells in the EU states, but acknowledged that the details of its implementation have yet to be agreed at the end of March. Meanwhile, in the Swedish capital, they again mentioned the onset of a decisive moment in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict and the imminent counteroffensive of the Ukrainian army.
155-mm artillery shells of new production prepared for shipment at the Scranton Ammunition Plant of the US Army Scranton Army Ammunition Plant. Scranton (Pennsylvania), 02/16/2023 (c) Brendan McDermid / ReutersThe main topic of discussion of the EU defense ministers at an informal meeting in Stockholm was the supply of 155-millimeter artillery shells to Ukraine.
As NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg admitted back in February, the consumption of shells in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict exceeds the industrial capabilities of Western allies. Kiev's partners decided to solve the problem by increasing production and retraining the Ukrainian military to conduct combat according to alliance standards - with a smaller, but more accurate consumption of projectiles. However, new supplies of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, taking into account the counteroffensive announced earlier in the spring, are needed now, and therefore the allies decided to develop another scenario that would satisfy the needs of Kiev as soon as possible. According to the plan submitted for discussion, the European Union intends to transfer to Ukraine the maximum possible number of shells remaining in warehouses in Europe, agree on a scheme for joint purchases of ammunition by EU member states from manufacturers and make large-scale investments in the defense industry.
Judging by the statements of the Minister of Defense of Ukraine Alexey Reznikov, Kiev has considerable needs. Before the meeting in Stockholm, where he was also invited, Mr. Reznikov stressed that he would ask the partners for a million artillery ammunition of 155 mm caliber, as well as other weapons to create a "steel fist" during a counteroffensive.
"Ammunition, ammunition and ammunition again," Alexey Reznikov outlined the agenda of the discussion, supporting the initiative of Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur to transfer 1 million shells to Ukraine.
According to him, now Ukraine needs from 90 thousand to 100 thousand artillery ammunition per month. In addition, he noted that air defense systems remain the number one priority, and also stressed the importance of supplying infantry fighting vehicles and tanks.
As for the tanks, even before the end of the meeting, the Ukrainian colleague tried to please the head of the German Defense Ministry, Boris Pistorius. "I have just learned that 18 German Leopard 2A6 tanks and three Portuguese tanks can be sent to Ukraine this month together with trained crews," Mr. Pistorius said. But the German minister could not say anything comforting about ammunition. According to him, the discussion of joint purchases of artillery shells by the EU countries is "correct and necessary," but do not forget the fact that in any case the industry will need time to increase production capacity in accordance with increased demand.
"We have to face the truth: the fact that we are all placing more orders (for the production of shells.- "Kommersant"), does not mean that we have more ammunition. This should be done first and only then delivered," Mr. Pistorius said.
About the same thing was said in Stockholm by Jens Stoltenberg, who came to support colleagues from EU countries, many of whom are also NATO colleagues for him. According to him, the consumption of ammunition on the battlefield is still higher than the production of shells by the European industry. However, Mr. Stoltenberg expressed hope that the problem will be solved, especially since the alliance countries have already signed contracts for the purchase of new shells. He also again called what is happening on the front line a "logistics war" and a "key moment" in the fighting.
Meanwhile, the Estonian idea of sending Ukraine almost all the shells remaining in European warehouses, in general, did not cause any particular objections from other EU countries. The question that provoked the controversy was only the means from which the supply of these ammunition should be financed. Some in the European Union, including the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrel, believe that money should be taken from the European Peace Fund and it is desirable to proceed from the funds already approved as assistance to Kiev. Others, like Mr. Pevkur, insist on agreeing new amounts for these purposes.
"Well, money doesn't fall from the sky. Just because one country claims that we need more money, it's a miracle they won't appear," Mr. Borrel said.
Nevertheless, as reported by Sweden, the EU presidency, on March 8, the EU ambassadors approved an increase in the budget of the European Peace Fund, from which it is proposed to finance the supply of shells, by an additional € 2 billion. Another thing is that, according to Reuters, it will take about €4 billion to send 1 million 155-millimeter ammunition to Kiev. Apparently, the necessary amount is in the fund, but it is not yet clear whether the financing of sending shells to Ukraine will be fully coordinated from this source.
At a press conference following an informal meeting of defense ministers, Josep Borrel confirmed that the main topic of discussion was the supply of ammunition to Ukraine, and spoke in detail about the EU's three-stage plan for a coordinated solution to the shortage of such shells. At the same time, he stressed that all EU countries agreed on the need to "immediately" send ammunition to Kiev - both 155-millimeter and 152-millimeter (that is, Russian-made), but acknowledged that the details of the scheme, including its financial aspects, have yet to be agreed.
So far, according to Josep Borrel, it is assumed that € 1 billion of the €2 billion of additional funds allocated to the peace fund on March 8 will go to urgent supplies of shells to Ukraine, and another €1 billion - just for joint purchases of ammunition by EU countries to replenish warehouses. Mr. Borrel did not specify which funds will be used for the remaining supplies, since € 1 billion is clearly not enough for all Kiev's requests. However, he expressed hope that at the meeting of the foreign ministers and defense ministers in the second half of March, the financial aspects of the plan will be clarified.
In addition, the diplomat reported that by the end of March, the European training mission will train more than 11 thousand Ukrainian military personnel, and by the end of the year - 30 thousand military personnel. In his opinion, "in order to win peace, Ukraine must win the war," and therefore Kiev's allies will support him "as long as it takes," although "the coming weeks will be key."
