EU member-states will sign an agreement on the purchase of shells for Ukraine on Monday – media

On Monday, March 20, European Union states are planning to sign an agreement on joint procurement of shells for Ukraine.

This is reported by Reuters.

It also applies to the transfer of ammunition from available supplies in European countries.

These agreements are made as part of work being carried out to accelerate and increase the supply of shells, which Ukraine needs to repel Russian aggression. The agreement will be open until signed by all member states of the European Union and Norway.

It also covers speeding up and increasing the production of artillery shells at defense enterprises in the EU to replenish the arsenals of European countries and supply them to Ukraine.

However, it is yet unknown which countries will join this agreement, since some states are still studying its terms.

The Reuters story claims that the first joint orders for the production of ammunition under the new plan could be placed by the end of May.

Joint arms purchases will be a significant step in strengthening integration within the EU in the defense sector.

Euractiv on Friday, citing its sources, reported that some EU countries wanted to buy ammunition for Ukraine outside the bloc, if the enterprises of EU member states could not produce them quite a lot and quickly. Considering the possibility of purchasing ammunition from the United States and South Korea.

The EU has previously identified 15 enterprises in 11 countries that can produce 155mm artillery rounds, and five manufacturers of 152mm Soviet-type rounds. Besides, work is underway to find new companies that are able to fulfill such an order.

Discussions are ongoing as to who should be responsible for joint procurement – the European Defence Agency or a separate country that will commit to contracting with companies on behalf of a coalition of EU member states.

It should be recalled that last week, the EU defense ministers reached an agreement in principle on speeding up the supply of ammunition to Ukraine from the existing arsenals of the bloc’s countries, as well as on increasing the production of 155mm artillery rounds and their joint purchase.