Stoltenberg asks allies to urgently ramp up arms shipments as Ukraine faces dwindling ammo stocks
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NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has called on NATO allies to increase the supply of ammunition and equipment to Ukraine to help it hold the front line, as every day of delay "has real consequences on the battlefield," Bloomberg reported on March 14.
"The Ukrainians are not running out of courage, they are running out of ammunition," Stoltenberg said during a press conference.
“Together we can provide Ukraine with what it needs, now we need to demonstrate the political will to do so. All Allies must work quickly, every day of delay has real consequences on the battlefield in Ukraine.”
Read also: NATO ‘not planning’ to send troops, though European allies might — Stoltenberg
Czech President Petr Pavel said on Feb. 17 that his country had found hundreds of thousands of artillery rounds abroad that it could transfer to Ukraine. However, he did not name the countries that were willing to sell the shells. Later, a number of European countries joined the Czech leader’s initiative.
A representative of the Ukrainian security forces told NV that the missiles are to be sourced from South Korea and South Africa. The contract is worth about $2 billion.
Some media reported on March 7 that the Allies had raised the entire amount needed to purchase the shells.
Read also: Stoltenberg assures that Ukraine will join NATO
Czechia has purchased 800,000 artillery shells from third countries and they can be delivered to Ukraine within a few weeks, Bild reported on March 11. Prague could have purchased the ammunition in South Korea, South Africa, and Turkey.
Czech Prime Minister's National Security Advisor Tomáš Pojar said on March 12 that the ammunition could arrive in Ukraine in June.
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on March 13 that about 800,000 artillery shells purchased for Ukraine under the Czech initiative will start arriving at the front in the near future.
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