Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Palestinian Ministry of Health: Two were martyred in Israeli shelling that targeted a besieged house in the town of Qabatiya in Jenin
At least 68 dead in migrant shipwreck off Yemen: IOM
Trump: We want to feed the people in Gaza, we do not want them to starve.
US President Donald Trump: We will impose sanctions on Russia if it does not end the war on Ukraine.
Israeli media: Polls show that 52% oppose Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while only 29% support him.
Israeli media: 32% of Americans still support "Israel's" war on Hamas, while 60% oppose it.
Israeli media: Core US support for "Israel" hits its lowest, while support for Palestine reaches its highest levels.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent reports martyrs, injuries in Israeli bombardment of home in Heker al-Jame area in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza.
Al-Quds Governorate: Today, the spatial division of Al-Aqsa Mosque began in a public and dangerous manner, and we warn of a religious war in the region
The Ministry of Health in Gaza: This brings the total number of victims of famine and malnutrition to 175, including 93 children

Kiev asks EU for 250,000 artillery shells per month

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 4 Mar 2023 17:28
5 Min Read

Ukraine is coming to the European Union with a hefty request of 250,000 artillery shells a month as the bloc mulls a mechanism to pay back donor countries.

  • x
  • A Ukrainian self-propelled artillery vehicle fires on the frontline, Donetsk region, March 2, 2023 (AP Photo)
    A Ukrainian self-propelled artillery vehicle fires on the frontline, Donetsk region, March 2, 2023 (AP Photo)

Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov wrote a letter appealing to the EU to send Ukraine 250,000 artillery shells a month, the Financial Times reported on Saturday.

Reznikov's letter, sent to his counterparts in the 27 EU member states, said Kiev was seeking a quarter million artillery shells a month in order to ease a critical shortage limiting the country's progress on the battlefield.

Furthermore, the Ukrainian Defense Minister said Kiev's forces were only firing a fifth of the rounds they could have due to the lack of supplies.

"Artillery plays a crucial role in eliminating the enemy’s military power," Reznikov said, explaining that Kiev was firing some 110,000 155mm-caliber artillery shells a month, a mere quarter of the amount used by Russia.

Read: War in motion: Will new Western arms tip current balance in Ukraine?

"If we were not limited by the number of available artillery shells, we could use the full ammunition set, which is 594,000 shells per month," he said.

As per Kiev's estimates, "for the successful execution of battlefield tasks, the minimum need is at least 60% of the full ammunition set or 356,400 shells per month," Reznikov added.

According to defense analysts, Kiev has more than 300 artillery systems, most of which have been donated by allies.

The letter also made it to EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell's desk, who had a less expensive plan in mind, suggesting that the bloc spend €1 billion ($1.07 billion) over the next few months as a means of reimbursing member countries for the cost of the munition they donated to Kiev.

The strategy has been criticized by EU diplomats, who said the move was "not ambitious enough," noting that "Every day, Russia is shooting as many shells as Europe can make in a month. Ukraine needs more ammunition."

Related News

US uses tariffs to strongarm India on Russia ties

China, Russia launch Maritime Interaction-2025 drills in Sea of Japan

Documents obtained by Politico show that the EU has been supplying Ukraine with arms through an off-budget, inter-government cash pot called the European Peace Facility, which aims to "repay" countries that sent arms to Ukraine. It has so far paid Ukraine €3.6 billion in military aid to Ukraine, with member states deciding to increase its funding by €2 billion in 2023.

The documents suggest that €1 billion should be focused on ammunition, notably 15mm, as soon as the €2 billion top-up of the European Peace Facility is “operationalized.” According to an EU official, this means that half of the year's top-up should be for ammunition, mainly shells.

The document also anticipated the increase in European industrial production, which is straining to produce ammunition at the rate demanded by the war. 

The funding proposal also allows “voluntary financial contributions” for countries not to feel obliged to send aid such as Austria, which is neutral; or that are reluctant to provide weapons, such as Hungary, which sent aid to Ukraine as part of an "EU loan." However, Hungary stuck to its stance and still has not joined in on the Western-induced sanction campaign against Russia. 

Read more: EU to train 30,000 Ukrainian troops, doubling former pledge

The Commissioner for Internal Market of the European Union Thierry Breton said earlier on Saturday that a shift to a wartime economy model in the EU has become imminent, arguing that the European defense industry must shift "to a wartime economy model to cater for our defense production needs."

Breton explained that with Borrell's support, the two were "determined to support the production ramp-up of the European defense industry to face the realities of a high-intensity conflict — starting with the question of ammunition."

According to Foreign Policy, Brenton and Borell have been working "on a plan to use €500 million of EU money to expand arms production by financing factory expansion, eliminating supply bottlenecks and placing big orders to stimulate investment."

The President of the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW Berlin) Marcel Fratzscher said earlier in February that since the start of the war in Ukraine, Germany has lost over $106.7 billion.

In an interview, Fratzscher told the Rheinische Post that "the Ukraine war and the associated explosion in energy prices cost Germany almost 2.5%, or 100 billion euros in economic output in 2022," adding that costs will continue to accumulate in the coming years.

Germany, according to Fratzscher, has been more severely impacted by the economic crisis because it is "extremely dependent on exports and global supply chains." 

Berlin also has a significant share of an energy-intensive industry that depends on increasing energy costs.

  • Russia
  • Germany
  • Ukraine
  • Josep Borrell
  • European Union
Russia & NATO

Russia & NATO

As the Draconian Western-led sanctions on Russia exacerbate the economic crisis worldwide, and as Russian troops gain more ground despite the influx of military aid into Ukraine, exposing US direct involvement in bio-labs spread across Eastern Europe and the insurgence of neo-Nazi groups… How will things unfold?

Most Read

A rescued crew member from the ETERNITY C vessel in a video released by the Yemeni Armed Forces on July 28, 2025 (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemen Navy reveals fate of targeted Eternity C ship crew

  • Politics
  • 28 Jul 2025
An Israeli tank explodes following an ambush by al-Qassam Brigades in Gaza, Occupied Palestine, undated (Al-Qassam Military Media)

Al-Qassam strikes Israeli vehicles in Gaza, inflicts casualties

  • Politics
  • 30 Jul 2025
UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

  • Politics
  • 1 Aug 2025
Protesters chant anti-Israeli slogans as they carry a banner that reads:" Freedom for Palestine, Alliance stop the war," during a demonstration in support of Palestinians in Gaza, outside the Israeli embassy, in Athens, Monday, June 9, 2025 (AP)

Athens mayor slams Israeli ambassador over Gaza war, graffiti claim

  • Politics
  • 3 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
A member of the al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, takes part in a parade as he celebrates a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and the Israeli regime in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Sunday, January 19, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Al-Qassam: We’ll allow aid to Israeli captives if Gaza siege ends

Freed Lebanese freedom fighter Georges Abdallah during an interview on Al Mayadeen, which aired on Sunday, August 3, 2025 (Al Mayadeen screengrab)
Politics

Exclusive: Resistance key to building state, Georges Abdallah says

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres gives a statement about the situation in Gaza at UN headquarters, Friday, June 27, 2025 (AP)
Politics

UN warns Gaza faces water crisis, looming famine under Israeli siege

Israeli soldiers drive their armored personnel carrier along the Gaza Strip, in southern occupied Palestine, Wednesday, July 30, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Ex-Israeli general says Gaza starvation campaign isolated 'Israel'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS