EU Efforts to Deliver Ammunition to Ukraine Face Delays and Strategic Debates
Progress in moving ammunition from the European Union to Ukraine is slower than hoped. Even comments from Ukraine’s foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, and from the EU’s top diplomat, Josep Borrell, indicate delays. Ministers and officials continued talks by videoconference from Luxembourg, underscoring Kyiv’s urgent needs. The discussions highlighted that Ukraine remains under sustained bombardment and there is continued pressure to speed up aid, reflecting Kyiv’s persistent calls for faster support.
Kuleba outlined Kyiv’s strategic priorities, pressing for more armored vehicles, tanks, artillery systems, and ammunition, as well as training for pilots on F-16 fighters to begin without delay. It was noted that missiles and ammunition are essential to defend Ukrainian sovereignty, with Moscow showing no signs of halting hostilities while Kyiv remains committed to defense. Borrell acknowledged that deliveries have fallen short of expectations but reaffirmed the bloc’s resolve to meet its pledges.
No fixed delivery figure was announced because projections shifted daily. Officials explained that the immediate step involved tapping into military stockpiles and concentrating on ammunition rather than missiles alone. The latest assessment described the missiles delivered to Kyiv as being in the low thousands, illustrating the scale and volatility of stock transfers.
Looking ahead, Borrell outlined a clear path for all twenty-seven member states as Moscow appears ready for a possible spring offensive. The emphasis was on accelerating both pace and volume of deliveries and ensuring that this message reaches the EU’s defence ministers. He stressed the need to communicate Ukraine’s urgency to the ministers responsible for defence so European security capabilities can deter further Russian aggression. The session also highlighted difficulties in reaching consensus on a legal framework for a joint ammunition purchasing plan proposed on 20 March, along with concerns about over-reliance on stockpiles and the timing of shipments.
Joint purchasing plan
At the session’s start, officials wrestled with recalibrating demands from countries such as France in favor of Commission priorities, revealing ongoing disagreements. Poland, the Netherlands, Germany, and the Baltic states pressed for swifter action, arguing that time matters. Yet there was cautious optimism that consensus would eventually emerge on expanding industrial orders tied to a roughly 1,000 million euro initiative. A later briefing suggested that twenty-seven member states broadly endorsed this second measure, signaling a unified commitment to intensifying defence support.
The initial priority involves dispatching more ammunition from EU reserves to Kyiv, with an allocation of 1,000 million euros earmarked for rapid deployment. Officials also noted that governments have already requested around 600 million euros in repaid credits, indicating there is still room for increased funding. Borrell spoke on calls for broader peace talks and engagement with third countries, urging patience and realism. He reminded listeners that Moscow’s invasion remains a violation of international norms and UN principles. The presentation suggested a constructive approach would include direct dialogue with Kyiv to understand civilian and military realities on the ground, while resisting any effort to normalize the aggressor’s position. The discussion emphasized maintaining pressure and sanctions alignment to counter Russia’s narrative in other regions and prevent sanctions evasion. The shared intention was to uphold Ukraine’s right to defend itself while coordinating a coherent EU response across member states and partners.