Ukraine expects shell deliveries from Czech initiative in April, PM says
Prime Minister of Ukraine, Denys Shmyhal (Photo: Vitalii Nosach-RBC-Ukraine)
In April, Ukraine expects the delivery of the first batch of artillery ammunition under the Czech initiative, reports Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal.
According to Shmyhal, during today's EU-Ukraine Association Council meeting in Brussels, the issue of finding additional resources to complement the funds currently being raised by Czechia for the purchase of artillery shells for Ukraine was raised. Ukraine expects to receive the first batches of ammunition as early as April.
"We will have them on the battlefield very soon. This is important because we are interested in the speed, quality, and timeliness of delivery," adds the Prime Minister.
Shmyhal notes that the European initiative for purchasing shells for Ukraine is a separate direction. This is an additional resource that our country will also receive in the current year. Schedules for this are currently being worked out.
Czech initiative
In early 2024, Czech President Petr Pavel announced that Czechia had found over 800,000 shells in non-European Union countries willing to sell them. This includes:
- 500,000 shells of caliber 155 mm;
- 300,000 shells of caliber 122 mm.
This initiative was supported by Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Denmark, and others. For instance, on March 6, Berlin allocated a three-digit million sum for the purchase of ammunition. Norway, for its part, allocated over $150 million.
According to Pavel, as of early March, allies had collected almost all the necessary funds for the purchase of the announced batch.
