'Europe cannot afford to lose': Zelenskyy appeals to EU regarding ammunition supplies
Photo: President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
This year, Europe must demonstrate the reliability and effectiveness of its solutions. The EU should not lose in global competition, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in his address to the European Council.
"Especially now, this year, it is essential and decisive to demonstrate Europe's complete reliability and the effectiveness of its decisions. Russia's aggression against Europe, initiated by Moscow on the European front, has now been bolstered by another Russian accomplice, namely artillery shells and ballistic missiles from North Korea," the head of state says.
Zelenskyy emphasizes that Russia is terrorizing Ukrainian cities with Iranian Shaheds, which are destroying civilian infrastructure. Now, in addition to this, Russia has received shells from North Korea.
According to the President, intelligence confirms that Russia will receive a million artillery shells from Pyongyang.
"Meanwhile, unfortunately, the implementation of the European plan to supply one million artillery shells to Ukraine is being delayed. And this is a signal of global competition in which Europe cannot afford to lose," Zelenskyy says.
One million shells for Ukraine
Last winter, it became known that Ukrainian troops faced a shortage of artillery shells. Therefore, in early May, the EU Council approved a decision to provide one billion euros in aid to Ukraine for joint purchases of ammunition and missiles.
It was planned that European countries would provide Ukraine with one million shells by March 2024.
In addition to direct deliveries from EU member states' warehouses, joint purchases of shells have also been organized.
It is currently known that EU countries have not been able to fulfill the plan in full. According to Bloomberg, the EU will be able to provide Ukraine with 600,000 rounds of ammunition by March.
