The European Commission has prepared a three-stage plan to increase the supply of ammunition to Ukraine, which should support the "unprecedented" consumption of shells by Ukrainian forces.
Source. Bloomberg writes about this with reference to the document.
At the first stage, the EU countries are expected to immediately increase supplies of 155-millimeter artillery shells from existing stocks or pending orders. These deliveries will be included in an additional €1 billion aid package to Kyiv, which is to be announced soon by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell.
In the second phase, EU countries will start using a common procurement system for 155mm shells to replenish their own stockpiles and supply Ukraine with them. Procurement is expected to take place through the European Defense Agency.
25 of the 27 EU countries, as well as Norway, have already expressed interest in joint procurement.
Finally, in the third phase, the EU will build up military capabilities and pan-European ammunition production capacity to meet current and future demand for arms supplies.
"All three elements are crucial for our continued support to Ukraine. All three areas should be implemented in parallel and as a matter of urgency," the European Commission document says.
EU defense ministers will discuss the proposed plan at an informal meeting in Stockholm early next week. The final decision may be made at the end of March at the summit of EU heads of state and government.
Background. As a reminder, the Office of the President of Ukraine requested an increase in supplies, stating in early February that the military had "almost zero ammunition left."
In this regard, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called on EU countries to unite and send more ammunition to Kyiv as soon as possible.
Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu offered to send Kyiv a million artillery shells in six months.
Joint purchases of this amount of ammunition would require up to $4.3 billion, Bloomberg reported.