NATO countries must increase their ammunition supplies to Ukraine—and do so swiftly, according to NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg. The situation in Ukraine has reached a critical point as the country faces an imminent shortage of ammunition, prompting an urgent call to action from NATO members.
During a press conference in Brussels, coinciding with the release of NATO's annual report, Stoltenberg highlighted the dire need for rapid assistance.
"Ukraine is not running out of courage. Ukraine is running out of ammunition," Stoltenberg stated, emphasizing the importance of timely support.
"Now is the critical moment for all allies to deliver the ammunition quickly. We cannot allow Putin to win this war," he added, underscoring the stakes involved.
The European Union had initially pledged to deliver one million artillery shells to Ukraine this month. However, Josep Borrell, the EU's Foreign Affairs Chief, admitted that realistically, only a little more than half of the target would be met.
In the United States, the decision-making process has been delayed due to a bitter conflict in Congress between Republicans and Democrats over funding for Ukraine.
"NATO allies are not sending enough ammunition to Ukraine. This has consequences on the battlefield every day. Russia is able to have more weapons than Ukraine on the battlefield every day," Stoltenberg remarked, highlighting the impact of the ammunition shortage.
According to Stoltenberg, recent weeks and months have seen Russian advancements due to this imbalance, stressing the urgency for NATO allies to make decisions regarding ammunition shipments. While keeping an eye on the decision-making process in the U.S. Congress, Stoltenberg called for greater effort from the United States, Canada, and Europe. "We have the capacity and the economy to deliver what Ukraine needs," he said.
The situation boils down to a matter of political will, with Stoltenberg advocating for a prioritization of Ukraine and increased investment in the defense industry.
"It's about political will to prioritize Ukraine and to invest more in the defense industry," he concluded, highlighting the crucial need for NATO and its allies to step up their support.
