A group of European countries led by France is blocking attempts to use EU funds to purchase ammunition outside the bloc.
This was reported by Politico.
This week, at a meeting of the Committee on Policy and Security, most countries in the European Union expressed support for allowing the use of EU funds to buy ammunition manufactured outside the bloc as an emergency measure to assist Ukraine, diplomats said. However, France, Greece, and Cyprus opposed it.
According to three EU diplomats, a small group of European countries led by France is blocking attempts to use EU funds to purchase ammunition outside the bloc because European arms manufacturers need orders to justify increasing production.
However, earlier in France, it was stated that purchases outside the EU would be allowed if the bloc did not fulfill its promise to supply 1 million rounds by March, which will happen. France also does not want to disclose the total amount of its supplies to Ukraine, despite pressure from Germany.
Ammunition Shortage
Recall that representatives of the European Union have announced that they will not be able to provide the promised one million rounds to Ukraine by March 1, 2024. By that time, only 600,000 munitions will be gathered in EU countries. Ukraine has informed its allies that it faces a “critical” shortage of artillery ammunition, as Russia uses three times more ammunition on the front lines every day. Umerov added that the weapon shortage in Ukraine is growing every day and called on EU allies to do more to fulfill their promise to provide a million artillery shells.
Photo: open sources
