EU to Supply Ukraine with 2 Million Rounds of Ammunition Per Year
The European Union has planned to increase its assistance to Ukraine, including the supply of at least 2 million units of ammunition per year, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas said at a press conference in Brussels.
According to Ukrinform, the relevant intentions are set out in the White Paper on the future of EU defence, which was presented today by the European Commission.
‘In the White Paper, we have taken into account the proposals contained in the initiative to support Ukraine. This includes more aid for Ukraine, including more ammunition, at least 2 million units per year, as well as air defence equipment, drones, training and equipment for Ukrainian brigades. This also includes direct support to the Ukrainian defence industry and increased access to space services. The new SAFE instrument (a €150 billion loan facility - ed.) proposed by the European Commission will help achieve this ambitious goal,’ Kallas said.
She reminded that the Russian economy is now fully switched to war mode - 40% of the Russian federal budget is allocated for military purposes.
‘Regardless of the ongoing negotiations for peace in Ukraine, this (Russian) investment is a long-term one and is designed for a long-term plan of aggression. Ukraine needs to be armed to avoid future attacks. We need a long-term plan to be able to do that,’ said the EU foreign policy chief.
She noted that the document presented today by the European Commission is the EU's plan to address immediate threats and build European defence in the longer term. It should help European countries achieve the defence capabilities set out in NATO's capability development targets.
‘We are not doing this to wage war, but to prepare for the worst, to protect peace for Europe and to be strong in a world where strength does not mean right,’ the EU High Representative added.
According to EU Commission press service, in particular, the White Paper outlines the following key actions:
- closing capability gaps;
- support for the European defence industry through increased joint procurement;
- support Ukraine by increasing military assistance and deepening the integration of the European and Ukrainian defence industries;
- deepening the pan-European defence market;
- accelerating defence transformation through disruptive innovations such as artificial intelligence and quantum technologies;
- Increasing Europe's preparedness for worst-case scenarios by improving military mobility, stockpiling and strengthening external borders, in particular the land borders with Russia and Belarus;
- strengthening partnerships with like-minded countries around the world.
As The Gaze reported, at the beginning of March, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen presented the EU's defence plan to mobilise around €800 billion in defence spending for a secure and resilient Europe.
The plan consists of five points. It is a set of proposals on how to use all the financial levers at the EU's disposal to help member states to rapidly and significantly increase spending on defence capabilities, immediately, and over a longer period of time during this decade.