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The Czech ammunition initiative must continue in 2025, the trio of prime ministers stated

by AI | 17.Oct 2024 | Europe in brief AI

18 countries have joined the initiative so far, 15 of them have already fulfilled their promises and contributed. This means that there are enough funds to deliver 500,000 rounds of ammunition to Ukraine, which is defending against Russian armed aggression, by the end of the year.

Flags of the European Union and Ukraine. Photo: dpa/European Newsroom

Brussels – The Czech ammunition initiative for Ukraine must not stop at the end of the year and must continue into 2025. Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, and Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof stated this in a joint declaration today. So far, 18 countries have joined the initiative, 15 of which have fulfilled their promises and contributed. This means that there is enough funding to deliver 500,000 pieces of ammunition to Ukraine, which is resisting Russian armed aggression, by the end of the year.

Czech Prime Minister Fiala wrote on the social network X that he had agreed with the Danish Prime Minister and the head of the Dutch government on further support for the European and Ukrainian defense industries and on continuing ammunition supplies to Ukraine in 2025 to enable the country to continue defending against Russian aggression.

“We call on other states to do the same. It is in the interest of the security of the whole of Europe,” added the head of the Czech government. Fiala is meeting with his partners today in Brussels at the EU summit, where Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also addressed his European partners this morning. It is he who repeatedly and emphatically calls on the Western allies to continue supplying weapons and ammunition to the defending country.

Every week, thousands of shells head to Ukraine, and the goal of delivering 500,000 rounds of 155 mm caliber ammunition is “in full swing.” “However, our assistance to Ukraine must not end at the end of this year; the ammunition initiative must continue in 2025,” emphasized the trio of prime ministers, stating that it is now important to decide on financial resources for the next period as well so that Ukraine can acquire new supplies of ammunition. “Next year will be crucial for Ukraine in its fight for its national sovereignty and freedom. And that is not only for the freedom of Ukraine but for the whole of Europe and the values on which the free world is based,” added Fiala, Frederiksen, and Schoof. (October 17)