"Only 30 percent"

Selensky laments the lack of promised shells

President Volodymyr Zelensky's army has recently had to withdraw from several locations in eastern Ukraine. A lack of ammunition is just one problem in the fight against Russia.

(Bild: AP)

In March 2023, the EU had set itself the goal of supplying one million pieces of ammunition to Ukraine within a year. Ammunition that is urgently needed in the fight against the Russian occupiers. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky complains that only a small proportion of the promised aid is actually being delivered.

"Of the one million shells that the European Union promised us, not 50 percent have arrived, but unfortunately only 30 percent," said Selenskyj on Monday in Kiev. Two years after the Russian invasion, Kiev is having difficulties getting enough artillery ammunition to defend the front line. Ukraine therefore recently called on Brussels to take "urgent measures" to increase supplies, for example by relaxing regulations.

President Volodymyr Zelensky's army has recently had to withdraw from several locations in eastern Ukraine. A shortage of ammunition is just one problem in the fight against Russia.

(Bild: AP)

What the EU has promised
Last year, the EU promised to supply Kiev with one million artillery shells by the end of March. In January, however, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell had to admit that the member states had only delivered 330,000 rounds of ammunition by then. A total of around 500,000 rounds are to be delivered by the end of March.

Ukraine is running out of ammunition.

(Bild: APA/AFP/Sergei SUPINSKY)

In view of the blockade of US military aid for Ukraine, there is currently particular pressure on European states to support Ukraine in its defensive struggle against Russia. Several countries, including Germany, France, Italy and Canada, have recently concluded bilateral security agreements with Ukraine. Austria does not want to provide the country with military aid, but sees itself as one of the largest donors of humanitarian aid. According to the Federal Chancellery, 210 million euros in bilateral aid has already been provided to Ukraine.

Macron: "Russia is preparing new attacks"
How aid to Ukraine could be increased, but also better adapted to Ukrainian needs - this was one of the topics discussed by 21 heads of state and government in Paris on Monday at the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron. 

French President Emmanuel Macron hosted the Ukraine summit.

(Bild: AP)

At the start of the conference, Macron warned against attacks on Europe: "Russia is preparing new attacks." A hardening of Russia is visible. The tougher line has been demonstrated by the death of Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny, but also by disinformation campaigns in the West. "The general statement today is that the security of all of us is at stake," emphasized Macron. "Russia must not win the war", declared Macron. "A joint leap by all of us is necessary."  

Nehammer: "Putin needs to be at the negotiating table"
In the third year of the war, "more" needs to be done, Federal Chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) told Austrian journalists in Paris. The West needs more allies in the world. Nehammer called for the BRICS states to be "much more involved" in order to exert sufficient pressure on Russia and President Vladimir Putin to end the war of aggression. 

It must be made clear to Putin "that the form of war he has chosen is leading the Russian Federation and himself into a dead end." And, Nehammer added: "We also need Putin at the negotiating table, because otherwise we will not achieve peace."