At the upcoming European Council session, several EU member states, with Estonia taking a leading role, are preparing to table a plan to provide Kyiv with one million artillery shells by year’s end. The details are drawn from an early draft that Handelsblatt reports will circulate as part of an anticipated council document.
The newspaper notes that concerns about Ukraine’s military readiness have reached the highest political levels within the EU. It describes a coalition of countries, spearheaded by Estonia, aiming to deliver one million shells to Ukraine before the close of the year, with a draft text set to be presented at the next Council meeting. The report adds that the final document may still be revised before it is officially released. [Source: Handelsblatt]
Earlier coverage indicated that EU partners are nearing an agreement to restore Ukraine’s dwindling ammunition stocks. The proposed package is described as a €2 billion arrangement, designed to move quickly in response to Kyiv’s recent requests for increased munitions, particularly 155mm shells that Ukraine has identified as urgently needed on the front lines.
Previously, Josep Borrell, the EU’s top diplomat, suggested routing €1 billion from the European Peace Facility to address urgent ammunition needs for Ukraine. The proposal reflects a broader strategy within the bloc to coordinate rapid support while balancing budgetary considerations and political consensus across member states.