EU may use Russian assets to purchase ammunition for Ukraine, – Euractiv

The European Union can purchase shells for Ukraine using frozen assets of Russia/Collage 24 Channel

Ukrainian partners, after months of delays, are rushing to provide Ukraine with the necessary ammunition for the fight against Russia. The shells can be purchased using funds from Russia's frozen assets.

For this, the leaders of the European Union must formulate an appropriate official proposal. This initiative will cover a significant part of the cost of ammunition for our army.

The EU is looking for ways to purchase ammunition for Ukraine

The publication's journalists noted that Vladimir Zelensky recently announced that Ukraine has so far received only a third of the million artillery shells that the EU has pledged to deliver by March 2024.

Meanwhile, in a recent address, EU chief diplomat Josep Borrell warned the bloc's member states that “doing nothing is not an option,” while Ukrainian troops fire up to an estimated 2,000 artillery shells a day.

In addition, the solidarity mechanism at EU level under the bloc's three-pronged ammunition plan to deliver one million ammunition to the country by March 2024 was actually limited due to the condition Paris that they will only assist in the purchase of ammunition manufactured in EU countries.

But now several separate and parallel initiatives, notably an EU-led ammunition purchase plan, a Czech-led ammunition purchase, and a series of bilateral security agreements between Ukraine and selected Western countries, should provide Ukraine with 700,000 rounds over the next few months.

In addition, defense and foreign ministers from more than 20 countries are also expected to meet in Paris this week to discuss support for Ukraine.

Prime Minister of the Czech Republic Petr Fiala said that about 15 countries were interested in Prague’s initiative, which identified 800 thousand units of artillery ammunition urgently needed by Ukraine on world markets.

Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, the US and Canada have already pledged contributions. The number of shells announced at the ministerial meeting in Paris is expected to be even higher. Britain, Finland and other NATO countries have also promised to provide Ukraine with an undisclosed number of shells during 2024.

Shells can be purchased with frozen assets Russia

There's also a surprise move from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who this week suggested that “it's time to start talking about using windfall profits from frozen Russian assets for the joint purchase of military equipment for Ukraine.”

According to Euractive sources, the EU executive may present an official proposal in two weeks.

At the same time, the question remains whether the collective Western shipment of ammunition will be enough to meet Russian supplies of shells from its own factories and, more importantly, from North Korea.

< p>The Czech-EU mediated ammunition plan is expected to force Ukraine to fire again at an intensity of probably up to 6,000 rounds per day by the summer of 2024.