Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has labeled the shortage of ammunition in Ukraine as 'humiliating' for Europe, emphasizing the critical need for ammunition access during a video address to EU leaders at a summit in Brussels.
Despite promises made in March to deliver one million artillery shells to Ukraine, the EU is set to fall short of this commitment, with expected deliveries amounting to only about half of the promised quantity.
"Unfortunately, the use of artillery by our soldiers at the frontline is humiliating for Europe in the sense that Europe can deliver more. And it is crucial to prove that now," Zelensky stated.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has also urged the EU and the USA to increase their support and to act swiftly. According to Stoltenberg, the Russian war economy is currently outproducing Ukraine in both ammunition and weapons, placing Ukraine at a disadvantage on the battlefield.
Zelensky warned that the situation could extend to other European countries if Ukraine does not receive the necessary resources to win the war. "We should not anticipate what Putin has in store for the Baltics or other parts of Europe if we can destroy his aggressive potential now," he remarked.
In his speech, Zelensky thanked EU countries for their recent agreement to allocate five billion euros to the so-called Ukraine Assistance Fund, intended for military equipment for Ukraine, equivalent to approximately 37 billion Danish kroner. However, Zelensky believes more action is needed.
This issue will also be a topic of discussion at the EU summit in Brussels, where EU countries will consider ways to strengthen the defense industry within the EU. This initiative aims to enable Europe to produce more ammunition and other military equipment independently in the long term.
