The EU has already delivered to Ukraine 220,000 artillery shells from its own arsenals

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BRUSSELS, 23 May. (EUROPE PRESS) –

The European Union has already mobilized 220,000 artillery shells from its own arsenals to supply Ukraine with ammunition in a sustainable way in full effort of the Ukrainian Army to repel Russian forces in the Donbas region.

This was confirmed at a press conference from Brussels after the meeting of European Defense Ministers by the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Policy, Josep Borrell, who has shown himself optimistic about the material mobilized by the Member States, which he has established in 220,000 artillery ammunition and more than 1,300 missiles.

Borrell considers that “at this rate” the EU is approaching the goal that was initially set to deliver a total of one million projectiles to Ukraine between the ‘stocks’ existing in the European armies and the joint purchase plan.

“The latest figures are much better than those of ten days ago,” acknowledged Borrell, who until now had warned that Europe was still far from the commitments reached with Kiev to provide one million shots to Ukraine.

The head of European diplomacy has indicated that there has been a “significant leap” in the shipment of material from the reserves of the Twenty-seven. “These things are not linear, the important part arrives at the last minute at the end of the term,” he indicated, hoping that delivery will be accelerated between now and May 31, when the term to mobilize ammunition and artillery from existing stocks ends.

According to his estimates, since the Twenty-seven have a margin until the end of May to donate the existing material, the EU can meet the objective because it has already delivered ammunition worth 860 million.

“There is no exhaustion in supporting Ukraine and what we have to do is provide it with the means it needs in the right amounts. In small doses it only serves to prolong the war. Ukraine needs determined support and the ministers are determined to give it to it”, the High Representative has stated.

The mobilization of 155-mm caliber ammunition is the focus of the war in Ukraine right now, diplomatic sources say, despite the fact that the supply of combat aircraft has crept into the public debate once the United States has endorsed the plans. from various allies to train Ukrainian pilots in the use of F-16s and to European partners to export these aircraft to Kiev.