Ukraine may receive the first batch of 800,000 shells “within weeks” as part of a Czech-led initiative to finance the purchase of 155mm artillery shells from third countries, Bloomberg reported on 2 March, citing Jan Jires, the Czech director general for defense policy and strategy.
Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, Czech President Petr Pavel said his country had found about 800,000 artillery shells abroad that could be sent to Ukrainian troops within a few weeks. He said financial support is needed to deliver these munitions to Ukraine.
According to Jires, the country is acting as a middleman in this effort, linking governments willing to finance the purchase of excess 155mm shells from third countries. The first shells are expected to arrive in Ukraine within weeks.
Jires told Bloomberg that the initiative is “demonstrating we are actually doing something, not waiting what is going to happen on the (Capitol) Hill.”
In the US, House Republican lawmakers have obstructed the Biden administration’s $60 billion request for Ukraine military assistance, which includes over $3 billion for munitions from Pentagon stockpiles. To date, the US has supplied Ukraine with more than 2 million rounds of 155mm caliber munitions since Russia’s invasion two years ago.
Belgium has already allocated €200 million to the initiative, while the Netherlands pledged €250 million.
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