Gathered in Brussels for a working session dedicated to the war in Ukraine, The 27 leaders gave their approval to the two-billion-euro package approved by the defense and foreign ministers on March 20.This would allow Kiev to buy about one million European-made howitzers.
Eighteen states, including Portugal, signed the agreement on Monday, with other countries expressing interest in joining the effort.
“Having regard to the security and defense interests of all Member States, The Council of Europe supports the agreement,” said the summit’s final reportIt allows “Provide surface-to-surface and artillery ammunition and, if requested, missiles to Ukraine“.
“The EU and member states are stepping up their efforts to meet Ukraine’s pressing military and security needs,” European leaders said.project
Commenting on the deal on Monday, The head of EU diplomacy, Joseph Borrell, called on member states to allocate the two billion euros allocated in December to these acquisitions.An intergovernmental fund used since the beginning of the war to supply arms to Ukraine.
The agreement foresees that each howitzer costs between 1,000 and 1,300 euros and will reimburse the member states using their weapons a billion euros to send the necessary ammunition. A new howitzer is currently around 4,000 euros and rising.
Ukrainian forces will receive missiles for their anti-aircraft defense with deliveries by May 31.
Another billion euros will be used to speed up new orders and encourage countries to join forces to procure through the European Defense Agency or at least in groups of three member states.
In short, The package will finance the production of 155 mm ammunition: 1 billion euros for the immediate supply of large quantities of ammunition, another 1 billion euros for joint procurement of ammunition.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked European leaders for the initiative as he visited the front lines in the east of the country via video conference from a moving train, a source who attended the call told The Associated Press.
The same diplomat, who remained anonymous, said during the closed-door meeting: Zelensky asked European leaders for modern fighter jets and long-range missiles To aid the Ukrainian resistance.
Guns instead of vaccines
A plan to establish a joint procurement initiative for Ukraine’s weapons, similar to buying vaccines during the Covid-19 pandemic, was proposed last month by Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas.
At the entrance to the summit this Thursday, Kallas saidThe most important thing is to get ammunition to Ukraine quickly because that will allow us to change the course of this war.“.
In addition to deliveries, the European Defense Agency collects requests from member states to replenish stockpiles and conduct rapid communications for direct negotiations with the European munitions industry.
Ukraine reportedly fires 6,000 to 7,000 artillery shells per day.About a third of Russian consumption, and to replenish reserves.
European duties
“The European Union supports Ukraine in its relentless struggle for independence,” said European Council President Charles Michel. “As long as we are with Ukraine, we will be“.
The final statement of the 27 heads of government echoes this policy and states that “the EU is firmly and fully on the side of Ukraine” and will continue to provide strong support, not only military, but also political, economic, and financial. Humanity is “as long as needed”.
Council of Europe “The The importance and urgency of stepping up efforts to ensure the effective implementation of sanctions at the European and national level“, “resolutely commits to effectively prevent and combat encirclement within and between third countries”, and “calls on the Council and the Commission to strengthen all necessary enforcement instruments and develop a fully integrated approach, together with Member States. That decision”.
Support for an arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin
The Council of Europe also states “take note of the arrest warrants recently issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against the President of Russia and its Commissioner for Children’s Rights, for the war crime of illegal deportation and transfer of Ukrainian children from occupied territories from Ukraine to Russia”, and it “Firmly committed to ensuring full accountability for war crimes and other serious crimes committed in connection with Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.
Finally, the conclusions adopted by the 27 leaders indicate that The EU will continue to provide all relevant support to neighboring Moldova. “including strengthening the country’s resilience, security, stability, economy and energy supply in the face of disruptive activities by outsiders” and “calls on the Commission to provide a support package before the next meeting”.
On February 24 last year, a Russian military offensive on Ukrainian territory plunged Europe into what is considered the worst security crisis since World War II (1939-1945).
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