The EU is speeding up arms deliveries to Ukraine to support the country’s counter-offensive against Russian forces, European Commissioner for Internal Market Thierry Breton said on 18 June in an interview with the French daily Le Parisien, according to Reuters.
“We are going to step up our efforts to deliver arms and ammunition – this is a war of high intensity in which they play a crucial role,” the EU industry chief said, citing a pledge to supply a million high-calibre weapons over the next 12 months. “We are preparing for the war to last several more months, or even longer,” he added.
The Ukrainian counteroffensive started earlier this month in several directions in the country’s south, while the Ukrainian troops continue offensive actions in the area of Bakhmut city in Ukraine’s east. The Ukrainian Armed Forces and National Guards have still not committed most of the newly created brigades, which shows that the main thrusts of the operation are yet to come.
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