- Title: Kyiv asks for more ammunition, EU foreign policy chief vows supply increase
- Date: 7th February 2024
- Summary: KYIV, UKRAINE (FEBRUARY 7, 2024) (REUTERS) REPORTER ASKING QUESTION (SOUNDBITE) (English) EUROPEAN UNION FOREIGN POLICY CHIEF, JOSEP BORRELL, SAYING: “We agreed on creating the condition to accelerate the delivery of ammunition and missiles. And it is a work in progress, it’s accelerating and by the end of the year we will have donated to the Ukrainian Armed Forces 1,155,000 ammunitions. The dynamics is growing up. From March to the end of the year the target is 631 (thousand).” NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (English) EUROPEAN UNION FOREIGN POLICY CHIEF, JOSEP BORRELL, SAYING: “And we have been talking with the minister – not with you, because I just arrived, but the prime minister. We will continue talking with the defence minister about ammunition supply. And I want to put that clearly in your mind: supply is donation plus exports. Don’t consider only the figure of donation because apart from that there is another important flow of ammunition coming to Ukraine through direct contracts. I know that’s not enough, I know. And that’s why we are increasing our capacity, we are re-routing this production to give priority to Ukraine.” REPORTER ASKING QUESTION (SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) UKRAINIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, DMYTRO KULEBA, SAYING: “Ukraine is increasing on an unprecedented scale the production of ammunition, European Union is taking unprecedented measures to produce ammunition and buy ammunition from the third countries. But this question requires comprehensive approach. It is not a situation where approval of one decision will solve all the problems. It is a situation where comprehensive decisions are needed. I have already said: “Let’s make sure that governments sign long-term contracts with manufacturers of ammunition in Europe. Let’s make sure Ukrainian and European manufacturers work together even closer and increase production. Let’s remove all administrative barriers.” We need to create sort of joint market for defence industries.” BORRELL LISTENING NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS
- Embargoed: 21st February 2024 16:03
- Keywords: Dmytro Kuleba Josep Borrell financial aid military aid package
- Location: KYIV, UKRAINE
- City: KYIV, UKRAINE
- Country: Ukraine
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,Europe,Military Conflicts
- Reuters ID: LVA003862107022024RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell discussed EU military and financial support on Wednesday (February 7) with top Ukrainian officials, as well as Kyiv's progress on reforms in its bid to join the 27-member bloc.
Borrell posted a picture on social media platform X from a shelter, saying he was rushed there with his team during an air raid siren.
The arrival of Borrell, who is on his fourth visit to Kyiv since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, comes at a crucial moment in the war.
The European Union approved a four-year 50 billion euro ($54 billion) facility for Ukraine last week in a major boost for Kyiv which depends heavily on its Western allies for military and financial support.
The major aid package from the United States, however, still remains blocked in Congress amid political infighting.
Ukrainian military officials have said they face an acute shortage of ammunition and artillery shells as Russian forces press on with renewed assaults on several areas in the east and southeast of the country.
(Production: Sergiy Voloshyn, Margaryta Chornokondratenko) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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