(ANSA-AFP) - BRUSSELS, MAR 20 - European Union ministers
agreed Monday on a two-billion-euro plan to raid their own
arsenals and jointly purchase desperately needed artillery
shells for Ukraine. Meeting in Brussels, defence and foreign
ministers backed an initiative that aims to provide Ukraine with
one million shells in the next 12 months as well as replenish EU
stocks. Kyiv has complained that its forces are having to ration
firepower as Russia's year-long invasion has turned into a
grinding war of attrition. Ukraine has told the EU it wants
350,000 shells a month to help its troops hold back Moscow's
onslaught and allow them to launch fresh counter-offensives
later in the year. German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said
the "starting signal" had been given and promised Ukraine could
count on getting a large amount of ammunition this year.
(ANSA-AFP).
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