EU countries disagreed over how to spend the 1 billion euros allocated for the purchase of ammunition to Ukraine. writes about it Policy.
The publication, citing its sources, states that France and Poland are discussing who should obtain joint EU contracts for the purchase of ammunition – only European firms, or also companies from the USA and the UK.
The newspaper said, “France is leading the struggle to keep the money in the bloc by offending some EU citizens.”
According to European diplomats, France’s ambassador to the EU has criticized his Polish counterpart in the press for accusing Paris of obstructing the final deal. A Polish official responded by saying that France is only making the ongoing negotiations more difficult.
“Finally, the Swedes intervened, trying to find a compromise. Swedish authorities have proposed an updated text of the agreement. The settlement document limited upcoming contracts to “economic operators based in the European Union and Norway”.
According to the publication, negotiations on this issue are likely to continue next week.
13 April Council of the European Union declaration On the allocation of EUR 1 billion from the European Peace Fund for the supply of ammunition to Kiev by 31 May.
20 March European Union acceptance 2 billion euro ammunition procurement plan for Ukraine The joint munitions procurement plan is part of a three-stage process approved by EU leaders. EU countries will transport bullets from their own stocks to Kiev in the first stage, and will purchase joint ammunition for Ukraine in the second stage. The third phase aims to meet the defense needs of Europe itself.
The previous day, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius declarationthat the cessation of arms supplies would mean the “end of Ukraine”.