The EU has delivered Ukraine 223,800 shells under the first part of a plan to provide a million artillery rounds to aid Kyiv's fight against Russia, a spokesman said on Friday.
Earlier this year, the 27-nation European Union pledged to step up supplies of much-needed artillery shells to Ukraine as Kyiv's forces faced shortfalls.
Its members agreed a two-billion-euro ($2.18-billion) plan to raid their stockpiles and place joint orders for shells, in a bid to deliver Ukraine a million shells over 12 months.
Under the first stage of the plan, running between February 9 and May 31, one billion euros was earmarked to reimburse EU members roughly half the cost of shells provided from their existing arsenals.
"Member states have delivered around 223,800 artillery ammunition -- long-range self-propelled, precision-guided ammunitions as well as mortar ammunitions -- and 2,300 missiles of all types," EU spokesman Peter Stano said.
Overall, the total value of the ordnance provided was 1.1 billion euros, the EU said. EU funds reimbursed only part of that, suggesting the measure fell short of the target.
Friday's new figure for artillery ammunition sent was just a small advance on the number -- 220,000 shells -- announced by EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell in late May.
EU countries had until July 15 to declare their deliveries.
This leaves the bloc and its members a long way off their target of one million shells by next spring.
In February, several EU capitals were already sceptical about vowing to hit a million, fearing they would fall short.
ISW Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, May 11, 2024
Under the second part of the plan, the EU's defence agency is negotiating joint procurement contracts with European manufacturers for 155-mm howitzer shells and missiles.
"(The agency) expects framework contracts with industry to be signed in the coming weeks, allowing member states to place orders from then on," the EU said.
Any contracts need to be concluded by the end of September to fall under the EU supply plan.
In total, the EU and its member states say they have spent some 20 billion euros supplying weaponry of all kinds to Ukraine since Russia invaded in February 2022.
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Comments (3)
NATO stocks and production capacity for 155 mm artillery shells have proven grossly inadequate. What’s worse is the excessive time (years) required to rectify these structural deficiencies in NATO and European defence planning and strategy.
Many such valuable lessons have been learned at excessive and ongoing expense in Ukrainian blood.
If lessons are well learned, a more credible defence posture will more effectively deter further Russian criminal ventures
From an American, thank you for fighting our future war now!!! and all the sacrifices of life and homes etc., there are many that are greatful and realize the implications of what's taking place, we stand with you!!!
Seems like a lot but it isn't so frigen work harder and faster sorry about being negative but its,the truth. They are fighting for Europe as well so more please and because of the dithering they have been forced to fight the counter offensive with no airsuppot as we know I am so disappointed in Nato right now prove me wrong.