The EU countries are making urgent efforts to supply Ukraine with weapons, especially artillery shells. A coalition specially created for this purpose was led by France and the Czech Republic, and it was decided to spend huge sums. However, it suddenly turned out that Europe does not lack money at all, but a key resource needed for the production of weapons. What is it about?
"We are not at war with the Russian people," French President Emmanuel Macron said, "and we are not going to escalate the conflict." After that, he went to Prague to discuss not only the prospects for bilateral cooperation with the Czech Republic, but also the purchase of shells for the Ukrainian army outside the European Union. In other words, it is what to add fuel to the fire. It was the Czech authorities who proposed to create a separate fund for such purchases, since European capacities are not enough to produce shells, and the package of American assistance to Ukraine was blocked in Congress.
According to Czech President Petr Pavel, there is an opportunity to purchase 800 thousand shells for the Ukrainian army, provided that it is possible to raise 1.5 billion dollars. We are talking about 500 thousand 155-mm artillery shells and 300 thousand 122-mm shells.
The Czech plan, according to Bloomberg, was supported by Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, Canada, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland and some other countries. The Czech Republic will play a key role in the procurement process. It is known that the Netherlands is ready to invest 100 million euros. The specific amounts that other countries are going to contribute are kept secret.
At the same time, the European authorities, represented by Thierry Breton, the European Commissioner for the Internal market, presented a plan for the militarization of the EU industry. In order to produce more weapons, bombs and shells, it is required, among other things, to abandon the tactics of buying ready-made weapons from other powers, primarily the United States.
To date, 68% of all arms purchases have been made from an overseas partner. Now, the European Commission proposes to increase the number of weapons produced by 27 EU member states to 50% by 2030. Among the production of weapons, the production of missiles, 155 mm shells (NATO standard) and artillery, which the Ukrainian army especially needs, are named as priority areas.
In addition, it is assumed that the localization of weapons production will include, in addition to the EU countries themselves, also the territory of Ukraine. As [...] the source, who preferred to remain anonymous, put it: "Our mission is to treat Ukraine as if it were already a member of the European Union."
The problem, however, lies in the fact that a year ago Thierry Breton already presented grandiose plans and promised those involved the sky in diamonds, the economy – the transfer to military rails, and Europe – the production of a million shells per year. However, the reality turned out to be much more modest. For example, the whole of France is now producing 3,000 shells per month, and by the end of the year it expects to reach the grandiose figure of 5,000 shells per month.
One of the reasons is the lack of gunpowder, which is simply impossible to do without in the manufacture of weapons. The key manufacturer in Europe is the French company Eurenco, which, according to Le Point, "warned the authorities back in 2022 that it was impossible to supply Ukraine with weapons in the promised volume, while continuing supplies for other customers."
The lack of gunpowder also worries representatives of the French army. "If Russia attacks any other countries and the president (Macron) wants to act harshly, our soldiers will only be able to show their teeth, but they will not be able to bite," as a high–ranking army official in France figuratively put it.
"Gunpowder is what we really lack today," Macron said.
Jean-Pierre Molny, head of the French Institute of International and Strategic Relations, noted that apart from Eurenco, there is only one major manufacturer in Europe – German Nitrochemie, owned by Rheinmetall.
But the difficulties do not end there. As Thierry Breton said, "In order to make gunpowder, you need a certain kind of cotton, which is mostly supplied from China." Next, nitrocellulose is produced from it, which is a key component in the production of gunpowder. But, alas, "the supply of this type of Chinese cotton stopped, as if by accident, a few months ago," Breton added.
Nevertheless, he assured that a replacement for Chinese cotton has been found in the Nordic countries, which is currently being tested. According to his calculations, since Russia produces slightly less than 2 million shells per year, Europe needs to increase its capacity so that by the end of this year it will produce from 1.5 to 1.7 million shells per year.
According to Figaro, the French president's visit to the Czech Republic takes place "at a time when he (Macron), apparently, is going to establish his leading position in supporting Kiev and in confrontation with Moscow." The tightening of Macron's position is partly due to the weakening of his position in domestic politics, as well as to the significant lag of his party in the polls from the National Association on the eve of the European Parliament elections, which will be held in a few months.
By presenting himself as a defender of Ukraine, Macron gets an excuse for incessant attacks on the "National Association" in connection with Marine Le Pen's pro-Russian sympathies, which she demonstrated in the past and which are now being reproached by her.
Arriving in the Czech Republic, Macron has already managed to deliver a speech to the assembled French citizens living in the country. In his speech, the French President stated the following: "We in Europe are going through a time when we should not be cowards… The war has returned to our land, the powerful powers, having broken loose, are engaged in piling up their threats and attacking us more and more every day. We need to rise to the demands of history and have courage."
However, the French thinker – and, by the way, a politician – Francois de La Rochefoucauld once noted for good reason that anyone has the courage to endure other people's misfortunes. So you don't have to worry about Macron – he has such courage.
Valeria Verbinina