Ukrainian Defense Minister Calls EU Plan To Allocate $1Bln For Shells To Kiev Insufficient

Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said that EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell's plan to allocate around 1 billion euros ($1.05 billion) for ammunition supplies to Ukraine is insufficient as Kiev needs artillery shells worth 4 billion euros as proposed by Estonia in February

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 09th March, 2023) Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said that EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell's plan to allocate around 1 billion Euros ($1.05 billion) for ammunition supplies to Ukraine is insufficient as Kiev needs artillery shells worth 4 billion euros as proposed by Estonia in February.

During an informal meeting of the EU defense ministers in Stockholm on Wednesday, Borrell made a proposal that includes the allocation of 1 billion euros for supplies of NATO standard ammunition from the bloc's existing stockpiles to Ukraine as well as measures to increase own production. Reznikov and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg also took part in the event.

"We need more (artillery shells)," Reznikov is quoted by the Europa Press news agency as saying at the meeting in Stockholm in response to Borrell's plan.

The Ukrainian minister cited Estonia's proposal as the one his country found sufficient, adding that Kiev needed around 100,000 artillery shells per month to be able to conduct a successful counteroffensive this spring.

In late February, Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas proposed a joint purchase of around one million artillery shells worth 4 billion euros for Kiev during the meeting with Stoltenberg and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

Western countries ramped up their military support for Ukraine after Russia launched a special military operation there on February 24, 2022. The assistance includes air defense missiles, multiple launch rocket systems, tanks, self-propelled artillery and anti-aircraft guns. The Kremlin has repeatedly warned against further escalation that could lead to the US and NATO's direct involvement in the conflict.