The EU’s foreign policy chief on Wednesday said the bloc will provide Ukraine with over 1 million ammunition rounds by the end of 2024.
“Defense industries are increasing their capacity. It has increased by 40% since the beginning of the year and I can be sure that by the end of the year, the total amount of ammunition delivered as donations will be about 1.15 million,” Josep Borrell told a press conference with Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal in the capital Kyiv.
Shmyhal, for his part, expressed Ukraine’s gratitude for the EU’s support in the financial humanitarian and military domains, saying the bloc’s assistance to Kyiv has reached almost €85 billion since the start of the Ukraine war nearly two years ago.
He appreciated the consensus on Ukraine Facility program envisaging the provision of €50 billion in support, saying that they hope the finalization and adoption of the mechanism will take “no time.”
“We're also very grateful for the military support that the European Union is delivering to Ukraine. One of the key and top priorities now is the delivery of artillery munitions to Ukraine,” Shmyhal said, adding that they commend Borrell’s personal contribution in enhancing the European Peace Fund.
Borrell also addressed the Verkhovna Rada, the Ukrainian parliament, and said that a Ukraine that prevails against Russia is a "huge contribution to European security of as a whole."
He said Ukraine’s future is in the EU, for which it has to "strengthen rule of law, plurality, inclusive governance, separation of powers, human rights, social cohesion and equality."
The EU official is on his fourth visit to Kyiv since the start of Russia’s “special military operation” in Ukraine nearly two years ago.
Source: AA
