EU's top diplomat hails deal on artillery shells for Ukraine
The European Union's top diplomat says the 27-nation bloc and Norway have endorsed a... European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has led a meeting of EU foreign and defense ministers at the European Council building in Brussels on Monday, March 20, 2023. European Union foreign ministers on Monday will discuss the situation in Ukraine and Tunisia, with Germany's Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and Slovenia's Foreign Ministers Tanja Fajon speaking to each other. Meanwhile, European Union countries have endorsed a fast-track procedure aimed at providing Ukraine with sorely needed artillery shells to repel Russia's invasion forces. Borrell took to Twitter to hail what he described as “a historic decision” for the 27-nation bloc and Norway to send Ukraine 1 million 155-milimeter artillery shells within 12 months. Germany has already called for countries to join its own effort, which Berlin believes will go faster. The third track of the program involves support to Europe’s defense industry.
Опубликовано : 2 года назад от By LORNE COOK, Associated Press в Politics
European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell rings a bell to signify the start of a meeting of EU foreign and defense ministers at the European Council building in Brussels on Monday, March 20, 2023. European Union foreign ministers on Monday will discuss the situation in Ukraine and Tunisia. Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, right, speaks with Belgium's Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib during a meeting of EU foreign and defense ministers at the European Council building in Brussels on Monday, March 20, 2023. European Union foreign ministers on Monday will discuss the situation in Ukraine and Tunisia. Germany's Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, right, speaks with Slovenia's Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon, left, and Slovenia's Defense Minister Marjan Sarec, center, during a meeting of EU foreign and defense ministers at the European Council building in Brussels on Monday, March 20, 2023. European Union foreign ministers on Monday will discuss the situation in Ukraine and Tunisia. Germany's Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, right, speaks with European Commissioner for Internal Market Thierry Breton during a meeting of EU foreign and defense ministers at the European Council building in Brussels on Monday, March 20, 2023. European Union foreign ministers on Monday will discuss the situation in Ukraine and Tunisia. Germany's Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, right, speaks with Portugal's Defense Minister Helena Carreiras, center, and Slovenia's Defense Minister Marjan Sarec during a meeting of EU foreign and defense ministers at the European Council building in Brussels on Monday, March 20, 2023. European Union foreign ministers on Monday will discuss the situation in Ukraine and Tunisia. Acting Danish Minister of Defense Troels Lund Poulsen, right, speaks with Denmark's Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen during a meeting of EU foreign and defense ministers at the European Council building in Brussels on Monday, March 20, 2023. European Union foreign ministers on Monday will discuss the situation in Ukraine and Tunisia.
BRUSSELS (AP) — European Union countries have endorsed a fast-track procedure aimed at providing Ukraine with sorely needed artillery shells to repel Russia's invasion forces, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said Monday, as Moscow maintains its focus on attacking the industrial east of the war-ravaged country.
As he chaired a meeting of EU foreign and defense ministers in Brussels, Borrell took to Twitter to hail what he described as “a historic decision” for the 27-nation bloc and Norway to send Ukraine 1 million 155-milimeter artillery shells within 12 months.
“We are taking a key step towards delivering on our promises to provide Ukraine with more artillery ammunition,” he said, and noted that 18 countries had signed up to a European Defense Agency, or EDA, project to place joint orders for ammunition with the defense industry.
Borrell said that he had won approval for his proposal to provide 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion) to encourage member nations to provide artillery shells from their stocks and any orders for new rounds that they might have placed with industry.
A further 1 billion euros would also be used to fast-track new orders and encourage countries to work together on those purchases through the EDA or in groups of at least three nations. Germany has already called for countries to join its own effort, which Berlin believes will go faster.
The third track of the program involves support to Europe’s defense industry. so that it can ramp up production in the longer term. EU officials have said that new joint orders could be placed by May if the plan is endorsed.
Germany’s defense industry says it stands ready to ramp up its output, including the kinds of arms and ammunition needed by Ukraine, but that it needs clarity about what governments want before investing in further production capacity.
Темы: Ukraine, European Union, Russia-Ukraine War