Ammunition manufacturers in the European Union could redirect their exports to help Ukraine during the war.
This opinion was expressed by EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy Josep Borrell before the meeting of EU defense ministers in Brussels on November 14.
He confirmed that the meeting participants will consider in detail the situation with the supply of ammunition to Ukraine.
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According to him, the European defense industry exports a lot. And about 40% of products are exported to third countries.
– So there is no shortage of production capacity. The problem is that they are sending their products to another market. Therefore, perhaps we need to try to transfer this production to priority number one, which is the Ukrainians,” Borrell emphasized.
He also commented on the EU plan to supply Ukraine with 1 million artillery shells within a year. The EU has already admitted that the bloc will not be able to do this until March 2024.
Borrell explained that the first of three stages of the plan has already been completed. We are talking about EU countries supplying ammunition from the stocks of their armies.
– This first track has already been completed, and here we have achieved what we expected: more than 300 thousand shells have been provided. Now it’s difficult to get more from army reserves,” Borrell said.
He clarified that supplies now depend on the production of ammunition. And it is connected with contracts signed by EU member states with manufacturers.
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“The work continues, but today we would like to know where we are and what the rhythm of production might be,” added Borrell.
Ammunition from the EU for Ukraine: what is known
This spring, the European Union agreed on a plan to provide Ukraine with 1 million 155 mm ammunition within a year. Three sources of supply were discussed: from the stocks of EU countries, through joint procurement and through the production of ammunition.
Recently, Western media published data that the European Union does not have time to fulfill its obligation to supply Ukraine with 1 million artillery ammunition.
On November 14, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius confirmed this.
