EU 300,000 shells short of Ukraine pledge

European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on Monday that the bloc remains 300,000 shells short of its two-million munitions target for Ukraine. Kallas pressed member states to continue military and financial assistance despite the shortfall in earlier commitments. She noted that one million shells stand ready through a Czech-led procurement program amid questions about declining EU military support since the summer.

The Czech Ammunition Initiative launched in 2024 to finance large-caliber rounds for Ukraine but faced scrutiny after investigations revealed Czech firms charged commissions up to four times higher than Ukrainian state agencies. Some deliveries arrived late and potentially disrupted defense planning. Kallas said officials need fund redistribution or other steps to address the deficit.

The two-million-shell commitment originated from a March initiative that started with 40 billion euros in military support but dropped to 5 billion euros after member state opposition. The Kiel Institute reported EU military aid fell nearly 60 percent in summer 2025 compared with early-year levels. Russia condemned Western weapons shipments as prolonging the conflict without changing outcomes and raising direct NATO confrontation risks.

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