Germany and Poland increase ammunition production for Ukraine
(Baonghean.vn) - The German Defense Minister said that Germany and Poland plan to increase ammunition production for Ukraine; at the same time, place logistics centers closer to Ukraine.
Ria Novosti news agency reported on March 19 that German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, at a joint press conference with his Polish counterpart Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz, said that Germany and Poland plan to increase ammunition production for Ukraine; and at the same time, set up logistics centers closer to Ukraine.
German Defense Minister Pistorius noted that both countries are supporting Ukraine in the field of air defense and ammunition. “Not only do we provide what can be found and purchased elsewhere, but this also includes, in particular, increasing production in Poland, Germany and other countries,” he stressed.
The idea of purchasing hundreds of thousands of artillery shells from a third country for Ukraine, known as the “Czech Ammunition Initiative” - was first announced by Czech President Petr Pavel at the Munich Security Conference on February 18, 2024.
According to President Pavel, the Czech Republic has acquired 500,000 155mm and 300,000 122mm shells. The above mentioned quantity of artillery shells is worth about 1.5 billion USD. This quantity of shells could be delivered to Ukraine within a few weeks if partners in the US, Germany, Sweden or other countries provide funding for the purchase of the shells.
According to sources, most of these countries are unwilling to directly support Ukraine for political reasons, so they need an intermediary. The Czech Republic will play that role if other Ukrainian allies help pay for the shells.
If Republicans in the US Congress finally agree to approve additional aid to Ukraine next month, it is likely that Ukrainian artillery will have more than 1 million rounds of ammunition by late spring or early summer.
This number still cannot catch up with the amount of artillery shells produced by Russian companies, but it is enough for the Ukrainian armed forces to at least hold the line against Russian forces and Kiev can start planning a new counterattack.
Russia fires about 10,000 shells a day along a 1,000km front line. Ukraine fires only 2,000 shells a day.