North Korea has delivered more artillery shells to Russia than EU to Ukraine – Lithuanian FM
Фото: Ілюстративне
The European Union possesses the resources to supply Ukraine with more artillery shells than North Korea provides to Russia, according to Lithuania's Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis.
Landsbergis called on the EU member states not to slow down with the supply of shells promised to Ukraine.
The EU promised Ukraine 1,000,000 artillery rounds. So far, we have delivered only 300,000. Meanwhile, North Korea delivered 350,000 to Russia.
The UK Ministry of Defense says North Korean munitions almost certainly have already reached ammunition depots in western Russia despite Moscow's official denials of recent reports of receiving weapons from the DPRK
Lithuanian FM says EU states "surely have the resources to outperform North Korea."
The EU promised Ukraine 1,000,000 artillery rounds. So far, we have delivered only 300,000. Meanwhile, North Korea delivered 350,000 to Russia.
We surely have the resources to outperform North Korea.
We should stop being frozen in the headlights while brave Ukrainians die.— Gabrielius Landsbergis🇱🇹 (@GLandsbergis) October 26, 2023
We should stop being frozen in the headlights while brave Ukrainians die.
His comment follows the latest Bloomberg article on the EU being behind schedule to deliver a million artillery shells to Ukraine by March next year.
Sources familiar with the matter state that under plans approved earlier this year, the EU has pledged to provide Ukraine with artillery ammunition within 12 months.
This initiative has so far provided about 30% of the planned amount. Based on the volume of contracts signed today, it risks not achieving its goal.
Several EU member states privately appealed to the EU foreign policy department with a request to extend the term of the contracts, the sources added.
The interlocutors noted that the US, which seeks to increase its production to about 1 million shells per year in 2024, called on the EU to intensify its efforts. White House officials declined to comment.
Rubryka reported that in May this year, the Council of the EU approved an aid package worth €1 billion for the joint procurement of ammunition and missiles for Ukraine.
At that time, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal noted that the EU countries would then send ammunition to Ukraine.
Before that, the EU countries failed several times to agree on the joint purchase of ammunition for Ukraine.
As reported, in September, the European Defense Agency signed eight contracts with defense companies for the joint purchase of 155-mm ammunition for Ukraine.
It was also reported that the US was trying to increase the supply of 155-mm ammunition, which is critical for Ukraine. The country agreed on the supply of ammunition to Ukraine with Bulgaria and South Korea.
