By the end of 2024, the European allies plan to transfer 500,000 artillery shells to Ukraine as part of the Czech initiative.
This is stated in the joint statement of the leaders of the European Union, Radio Free Europe reports.
On May 28, the leaders of five European NATO countries confirmed their support for Ukraine at a meeting in Prague. The main topic of the meeting was the Czech Republic’s plan to purchase up to 800,000 artillery shells in countries outside the European Union and provide them to Ukraine.
Prime Minister of the Czech Republic Petr Fiala said that Kyiv can expect the first batch of 155-mm shells in the coming days.
Petr Fiala organized a working dinner with the participation of the Polish President Andrzej Duda, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, the Prime Minister of Denmark Mette Frederiksen and the Prime Minister of Latvia Evika Silina.
He also announced that he will meet with Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal.
The Prime Minister of the Czech Republic also said that officials will discuss how their countries can help Ukraine “at this critical stage of its defense against Russian aggression”.
They also planned to discuss the effectiveness of current initiatives regarding arming Ukraine, as well as what else can be done.
Government officials and private companies, on the Czech initiative, worked to find ammunition all over the world. Fifteen EU and NATO states have pledged around 1.6 billion euros to finance this project.
After the meeting in Prague, the leaders said that with current funding, they “expect to ensure the donation of half a million rounds of artillery ammunition before the end of the year”.
In turn, the President of Poland, Andrzej Duda, encouraged the transportation of artillery shells and called the situation on the Ukrainian-Russian front as difficult. He said Russia had the initiative in the war and is preparing another major offensive, and artillery will play a key role in defense.
“We need them (the ammunition) on the front line as soon as possible,” – said Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal.
The leaders of the five European NATO countries added that they would continue the initiative as long as needed.
