Latvia joins Czech initiative to purchase ammunition for Ukraine

"This is the most important opportunity to defeat Russia, and we must do everything possible to support Ukraine."

German government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit said that Germany would participate in the purchase of 800,000 artillery shells for Ukraine that the Czechia found outside the EU.

During the Munich Security Conference on February 17, Czech President Petr Pavel said his state had identified 500,000 155 mm and 300,000 122 mm shells that could be delivered within weeks if money was available.

Czechia could transfer the shells in a matter of weeks if it secures funding from the United States, Germany, Sweden, and other allies. The initiative has already been supported by Canada with its $23 million allocation, Netherlands with €100 million, Belgium with €200 million, and Lithuania.

So far, 15 states support the purchase of ammunition for Ukraine outside of the EU. In recent months, the bloc has significantly increased its ammunition production and will bring this capacity to 1 million rounds per year in March this year and 2 million in 2025.