Ukraine’s ammunition shortage problem has received a significant boost from a European ally, aiming to help solve the issue.
Portugal’s Ministry of National Defense made an announcement on Friday stating that Lisbon will be joining a Czech-led initiative to provide Ukraine with over 800,000 artillery shells. This comes as Ukraine continues to defend itself against Russian forces, more than two years after the invasion.
Ukraine has faced several recent setbacks on the battlefield, partly due to a significant shortage of artillery ammunition in comparison to Russia. According to a European diplomatic official who spoke to Newsweek, this disparity is currently the most pressing danger Ukraine is confronted with.
The defense ministry of Portugal emphasized the pressing importance for Ukraine to acquire more munitions in order to effectively counter Russia’s escalating and relentless attacks. Specifically, there is a critical need for additional 155mm artillery shells.
Portugal has committed โฌ100 million, equivalent to approximately $109 million, to support the Czech-led ammunition initiative. The aim of this contribution, according to the ministry, is to safeguard the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.
On Friday, Newsweek contacted the Ukrainian military via email to request a comment.
The European Union (EU) and its member countries have been stepping up their assistance to Ukraine, as the $60 billion aid package requested by President Joe Biden faces delays in Congress due to partisan gridlock.
Several European allies, including Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Sweden, have also provided financial support for the Czech ammunition program. Czech President Petr Pavel announced recently that they have already collected enough funds to acquire 300,000 rounds.
According to Euractiv, Tomรกลก Pojar, the national security adviser of the Czech Republic, stated earlier this week that the ammunition will be sent to Ukraine starting from June. The deliveries are anticipated to continue for around one year.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov recently expressed his disappointment over the delayed delivery of half of the military aid promised by Kyiv’s Western allies. This delay has only exacerbated the challenges faced by the nation on the battlefield.
The Czech-led program is currently dependent on buying ammunition from sources outside of Europe. However, EU officials have recently introduced a new initiative on March 5th. The goal of this initiative is to boost weapon production within Europe, ultimately reducing the continent’s dependence on arms manufactured in the United States.
The Biden administration has been the most significant supplier of weapons to Ukraine during the war, having delivered over 2 million rounds of 155 mm artillery shells to Kyiv since the conflict commenced on February 24, 2022.
The U.S. Army made an announcement earlier this year, stating its intention to increase ammunition production by double the current rate by fall. The objective is to meet the demands of both Ukraine and the American military. By October 2025, the Army aims to achieve a monthly production rate of 100,000 shells.
The Department of Defense made an announcement on Tuesday, stating that it will be providing Ukraine with a $300 million military aid package. This aid package will be granted without the requirement of congressional approval. The funds for this package were derived from surplus funds that were obtained from defense contracts which were completed under budget.
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