“We have already delivered more than 980,000 rounds, and very soon we will deliver one million rounds,” Borrell stated. The original goal was to reach this target by spring, but unforeseen challenges delayed the timeline.
Borrell acknowledged the delay, explaining, “I know that we committed to reaching this level by spring and we failed. But by the end of the year, we will be able to. And we have accelerated significantly for this purpose.” The EU’s collective efforts have ensured that the ammunition supply to Ukraine continues steadily.
In addition to the main EU supply, Ukraine received substantial ammunition through bilateral agreements with individual EU member states and through the Czech initiative. Although the Czech contribution has progressed more slowly than anticipated, it remains a crucial component of support for Ukraine, Borrell highlighted.
By the end of 2023, the EU expects to have delivered over 1.5 million pieces of ammunition to Ukraine, significantly surpassing its original target. “In total, by the end of the year, we will have delivered more than 1.5 million pieces of ammunition to Ukraine,” Borrell added.
Looking forward, the EU plans to maintain steady ammunition supplies to Ukraine. “Once we reach cruising speed, we will be able to continue to supply Ukraine with the same amount of ammunition,” Borrell affirmed. This commitment aims to ensure ongoing support as the conflict continues.
Borrell noted that the delays were not solely due to logistical issues but also stemmed from underestimated production capacity across the EU. He reflected, “When we promised to reach the level of 1 million shells a year by spring, we did not know what the real production capacity was, and it was not as high as we thought.”
In March 2023, EU defence and foreign ministers agreed on a joint ammunition procurement plan, aiming to supply Ukraine with 1 million rounds within a year. Seven countries initially participated in discussions about the plan, underscoring a shared commitment to Ukraine’s defence needs.
However, in November, the EU acknowledged it may not meet the initial timeline to deliver the promised ammunition by March 2024. European Commissioner for the Internal Market, Thierry Breton, stated that EU defence companies are now projected to produce over one million shells by spring 2024, highlighting ongoing efforts to meet production goals.
Source: RBC-Ukraine.
