United to win: Finland pledges €30 mln for Ukrainian ammunition through Czech initiative
Photo: Reuters
Finland plans to back the Czech Republic's initiative to send hundreds of thousands of artillery ammunition to Ukraine by allocating 30 million euros.
Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen announced this on the X social network.
The official noted that on March 19, he discussed with the Chief of the Czech General Staff, Karel Řehka, the issue of improving European defense and supporting Ukraine's armed forces.
"We specifically discussed the Czech Republic's initiative on ammunition, and Finland contributes 30 million euros to it," Häkkänen emphasized.
Keskustelut Tšekin puolustusvoimien komentajan kanssa Euroopan puolustuksen ja Ukrainan tuen parantamisesta. Keskustelimme erityisesti Tšekin ammusaloitteesta. Suomi osallistuu tähän aloitteeseen 30 miljoonalla eurolla. pic.twitter.com/SKnPe7TbeS
— Antti Häkkänen (@anttihakkanen) March 19, 2024
For reference:
On February 17, at the Munich Security Conference, Czech President Petr Pavel said that his country had found 500,000 155 mm and 300,000 122 mm rounds that could be delivered within weeks if the money was available.
According to Pavel, the Czech Republic could transfer the projectiles in weeks if funding is obtained from the USA, Germany, Sweden, and others.
It is known that the following joined the initiative of the Czech Republic:
- Canada, which will allocate 30 million Canadian dollars (about 23 million US dollars) for the purchase of ammunition for Ukraine outside NATO;
- The Netherlands allocates more than 100 million euros to this initiative;
- Belgium, which will give 200 million euros for the initiative of the Czech Republic;
- Lithuania will join the Czech initiative to purchase and transfer ammunition to Ukraine.
- In total, 15 countries support the procurement of ammunition for Ukraine outside of Europe.
It is worth adding that during the past months, the European Union has significantly increased the production of ammunition and will bring this capacity to 1 million ammunition per year in March of this year and to 2 million in 2025.
Moreover, the President of the Czech Republic, Petr Pavel, said that 800,000 artillery shells purchased in third countries of the world could be delivered to Ukraine within a few weeks.
