European Union foreign ministers on Monday agreed to a 2 billion-euro ($2.14 billion) plan to raid their stockpiles and jointly purchase desperately needed artillery shells for Ukraine, diplomats said.
Diplomats said the 27-nation bloc is aiming to supply 1 million rounds to Ukraine over the next 12 months as Kyiv pleads for more firepower to fight off a grinding Russian offensive.
Kyiv has complained that its forces are having to ration firepower as Russia’s yearlong invasion has turned into a grinding war of attrition.
Ukraine has told the EU it wants 350,000 shells a month to help its troops hold back Moscow’s onslaught and allow them to launch fresh counteroffensives later in the year.
Prior to signing the deal, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said there needed to be a deal, “otherwise, we will be in difficulties in order to continue supplying arms to Ukraine.”
“We have to help Ukraine more, quicker and now,” said France’s Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna.
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