The European Union (EU) is set to miss its target of delivering 1 million artillery shells to Ukraine by March, according to German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius. Speaking at the EU defense ministers’ summit on Tuesday, Pistorius expressed concerns about meeting the ambitious goal, highlighting the need for enhanced efforts to support Ukraine amid ongoing geopolitical challenges.
Pistorius acknowledged the difficulty in achieving the 1 million shell target and emphasized the importance of exploring alternative strategies. He suggested that defense firms could contribute by redirecting their focus towards supplying more ammunition to Ukraine and reducing exports to other nations.
The EU’s’soreign and security policy chief, Josep Borrell, questioned the assertion that the EU’s defense production capacity had reached its limit. Borrell emphasized that approximately 40 percent of the European defense industry’s production is exported to third countries. He suggested that a potential solution could involve redirecting production towards priority areas, such as supporting Ukraine.
Addressing reporters ahead of the defense ministers’ meeting, Borrell stated, “It’s not a lack of production capacity; it is that they send their products to [other] markets. So maybe what we have to do is try to shift this production to the priority one, which is Ukrainians.” Borrell stressed the importance of providing a more favorable market for defense firms, aligning with the commitment to support Ukraine.
Estonia took a proactive approach, announcing what it termed “the biggest procurement in Europe at this moment”—a €280 million investment in 155-millimeter artillery ammunition. Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur revealed that procurement offers were extended to five European companies, emphasizing the contribution of European firms involved in the production of essential ammunition.
Despite individual efforts, the EU faces a significant gap in meeting Ukraine’s artillery shell requirements. Pevkur revealed that the EU’s current production capacity stands at a maximum of 700,000 rounds annually, falling far short of the estimated 3 million needed to fulfill commitments to Ukraine and bolster national ammunition stocks.
As the EU grapples with logistical challenges in fulfilling its artillery shell pledge to Ukraine, the discussions at the defense ministers’ summit underscore the complexities of coordinating efforts among member states. Redirecting defense production priorities and fostering a more supportive market for Ukraine emerge as key considerations in addressing the critical shortfall. The evolving situation highlights the ongoing commitment to assisting Ukraine in the face of geopolitical uncertainties.
