STOCKHOLM, March 8 (Xinhua) — European Union (EU) defense ministers on Wednesday discussed the idea of sending additional military aid to Ukraine, at an informal meeting in the Swedish capital Stockholm.
“There was a growing consensus around the table that the EU needs to act to provide the Ukrainians with more ammunition,” Swedish Defense Minister Pal Jonson said in a video released after the meeting.
The defense ministers discussed a plan by Josep Borrell, the EU’s high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, for the EU to replace member states that immediately send more artillery ammunition to Ukraine.
Under the plan, member states would also jointly buy large quantities of munitions through the European Defense Agency, to speed up deliveries while keeping costs down.
The EU plans to set aside two billion euros (US$2.1 billion) from the European Peace Facility for the purchase of ammunition.
“I hope that by our next meeting of defense ministers on March 20 in Brussels we will actually be able to reach an agreement,” Jonson said after the meeting.
Source: sn.dk
