EU countries are at a stalemate in transporting the 155mm shells they need to Kiev. Bloomberg citing a source familiar with the discussion.
According to the agency, the EU is expected to sign a joint ammunition supply plan for Ukraine next week, but the member states have not yet indicated how much additional funds they are ready to allocate for this purpose. At the same time, some countries advocate that contributions be mandatory and commensurate with the size of each country’s economy, while others insist that all contributions must be voluntary.
Another discussion centers on the question of whether the procurement of ammunition from companies will be financed through a joint procurement project run by the European Defense Agency or through the European Peace Fund.
Another question is whether the shells will be purchased from European manufacturers or from outside the alliance. Currently, there are about 15 155mm shell manufacturers in 11 countries in the EU, while possibilities for expanding their production are quite limited.
In Kiev, the need for rounds in 2023 was estimated at 1 million. In Estonia, it was calculated that this would cost the EU 4 billion euros. According to Estonia, the Ukrainian Armed Forces consumes an average of 60,000 to 210,000 units of ammunition. per month, the European defense industry can only produce 25,000 rounds during this period.
Previously reportedFrance has opposed the participation of non-EU countries in joint ammunition purchases, including for Ukraine.