EU foreign and defence ministers meeting in Brussels are expected to give the green light to a three-pronged strategy to provide Ukraine with urgently needed munitions, in particular 155mm artillery shells, as it continues to resist the Russian invasion.
However, the meeting comes amid warnings that the European defence industry is struggling to ramp up production of weaponry in order to both supply Ukraine and to replenish member states’ own stocks.
Meanwhile, Chinese president Xi Jinping is expected to reaffirm his close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin as he embarks on a state visit to Russia.
The consensus view in the west is that any peace negotiations will be determined by what happens on the battlefield in Ukraine, and that outcome in turn could be determined by which side has the greatest reserves of artillery shells.
Ukraine desperately needs 155mm shells as it is burning through in a month what a small country can stockpile in a year.
Foreign and defence ministers are expected to approve two €1bn proposals to speed up shipments to Ukraine and incentivise member states who can to form joint artillery purchase contracts.
Some member states have significant stocks of the artillery shells and they could be reimbursed through the off-budget European Peace Facility. Others are looking beyond Europe to purchase other stocks.
In the longer term member states want to beef up Europe’s defence industrial base, hollowed out after a slump in spending following the end of the Cold War.
However, it has been reported that European munitions manufacturers are struggling to secure the raw materials needed to quickly deliver artillery shells, and that as such the costs of manufacture are going up..
EU ministers meet over munitions for Ukraine
Source: Viral Trends Report
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