The Netherlands will allocate €260 million to purchase ammunition for Ukraine

The Netherlands will allocate €260 million to purchase 155 mm artillery ammunition for Ukraine.

This regards the joint purchase of shells for Ukraine by the EU countries, which was agreed upon in March of this year.

Further support for Ukraine was discussed at a meeting of Defense Ministers of the EU countries in Brussels, the Ministry of Defense of the Netherlands reports.

The Defense Ministers also discussed the proposal of European Commissioner Thierry Breton, which suggests the allocation of €500 million from the EU budget to increase the defense industry capacities.

These measures are necessary to continue the military support to Ukraine and replenish the stocks of EU countries.

In addition, the Ministry of Defense of the Netherlands emphasized that the country is actively working on the training of the Ukrainian military, which takes place within the EU training mission.

As of now, 15,200 Ukrainian soldiers have already been trained, some of them were trained by the forces of the Netherlands.

On March 20, the European Union agreed on a plan to supply ammunition to Ukraine in the amount of €2 billion.

The Armed Forces of Ukraine are to receive one million 155mm artillery shells over the next 12 months.

On May 3, the European Commission approved the Act on supporting the production and urgent shipment of ammunition to Ukraine.

Also, on May 5, the Council of the EU approved the allocation of funds to purchase ammunition for Ukraine. Contracts to purchase the projectiles must be concluded by September 30, 2023.