Luxembourg Joins Artillery Coalition and Will Purchase Drones for Ukraine

Luxembourg has joined the artillery coalition led by France and Germany and will purchase drones for Ukraine in cooperation with Belgium and the Netherlands under the BeNeLux programme. 

Luxembourg's Minister of Defence Yuriko Backes announced this on social media. 

This step was one of the results of the 20th meeting in the Ramstein format.

Luxembourg joins the artillery coalition.

"Luxembourg is joining the artillery coalition... It continues to support Ukraine by delivering much-needed equipment," the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine said. 

Ukraine's allies have already established several coalitions focused on building up its air force and information technology capabilities.  These include a tank coalition, an armoured personnel carrier coalition, a mine action coalition, an F-16 airlift coalition led by the United States, an air defence coalition, an IT coalition and a drone coalition. 

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz also announced the creation of a long-range rocket artillery coalition for Ukraine. 

On 18 January, the artillery coalition was launched in France. During the first meeting, representatives of the participating countries developed a common position on meeting the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine for certain types of artillery weapons.

The opening of the International Artillery Coalition was attended by representatives of 22 countries. The Ukrainian delegation was headed by Deputy Minister of Defence Lieutenant General Ivan Havryliuk.

The Ministry of Defence stressed that the members of the artillery coalition are countries that have advanced technologies for the production of advanced artillery systems, ammunition, artillery reconnaissance systems, unmanned aerial targeting systems and fire control systems.

The aim of this initiative is to increase the capabilities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, provide new artillery systems and ensure the effective operation of the artillery weapons already provided.