Borrell called for allocation 1 billion euros for weapons for Ukraine

The EU intends to propose a trilateral plan to provide Ukraine with the necessary ammunition. It is planned to allocate one billion euros for this purpose.

This is reported by Bloomberg.

The head of the European Union's foreign policy service, Josep Borrell, has called for allocating funds from the European Peace Facility for the purchase of 155 mm artillery shells for Ukraine. This proposal will be discussed by the EU defense ministers at the informal meeting on March 7 in Stockholm.

According to the document, Borrell offered to give the EU countries a favorable reimbursement rate of up to 90% if the ammunition is delivered by a certain date. In addition, he noted the importance of joint purchases for the continuation of arms supplies to Ukraine and pointed to the need to replenish EU member states' weapons stocks.

The supply of munitions to Ukraine is expected to be on the agenda when President Joe Biden meets with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz this week. The U.S. is urging its European allies to act as quickly as possible. Estonia, which first raised the issue earlier this year, said EU countries should invest about 4 billion euros to jointly purchase 1 million shells.

The plan is to immediately transfer ammunition, especially 155-mm artillery shells, from existing stocks or pending orders, and to use a joint procurement system to consolidate orders to the European industry.

A second version of the EU plan calls for Ukraine's needs to be met through a seven-year procurement project soon to be launched under the direction of the European Defence Agency to meet the needs of member states, ranging from small arms ammunition to 155mm shells.

The EU plans to propose different measures to increase production in the long term and overcome some of the challenges the industry faces to allow member states to replenish their stockpiles.

Author – Anastasiya Glotova, 02/03/2022