Czech Republic to Deliver First 180 000 Artillery Shells to Ukraine Next Month.

The Czech Republic is set to deliver the initial batch of 180,000 artillery shells to Ukraine by early summer, as part of a new initiative to procure ammunition outside of the EU, revealed Czech President Petr Pavel during an interview with German television channel ARD on May 8, 2024.
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The Czech-led ammunition initiative aims to provide substantial military support to Ukraine. (Picture source: US DoD)

The Czech-led ammunition initiative aims to provide substantial military support to Ukraine by sourcing artillery ammunition from global suppliers outside of the European Union. This initiative was developed in response to the EU's failure to deliver on its promises of artillery shell supplies to Ukraine and the ongoing intense conflict with Russia.

During the interview, President Pavel, alongside Prime Minister Petr Fiala, stated their expectation that the delivery would occur in June, with additional contracts already in place for further substantial ammunition shipments.

President Pavel acknowledged that the initiative was progressing slower than desired but emphasized the urgent need for other nations to enhance their support for Ukraine. He highlighted the importance of reducing Russian hopes of victory to hasten peace talks, noting that minimal Russian expectations of success could prolong the conflict.

President Pavel criticized the West's initially cautious approach to supporting Ukraine, suggesting that more rapid and decisive support could have significantly altered the current situation. He stressed the importance of learning from past hesitations to provide immediate and comprehensive aid to prevent further loss of Ukrainian territory and lives.

Further discussions on the progress of military aid and ammunition procurement between the foreign ministers of Ukraine and the Czech Republic underscore the ongoing collaborative efforts.

In his remarks, Pavel also addressed the ideological divide between Russia and Europe, describing Russia's view of international relations as a zero-sum game where any Russian success necessitates others' losses. He cautioned against any conciliatory approach that might be perceived as naive given the stark differences in values between Russia and European nations.

Earlier this year, Prague initiated the purchase of approximately 800,000 shells for Ukraine from various global sources, with the potential figures now expected to nearly double, according to Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky.

Initially, the Czech Republic identified potential sources for 800,000 artillery shells, with plans to expand this to up to 1.5 million rounds due to high demand and the critical need in Ukraine. The funding for this initiative comes from multiple international partners, with significant contributions from countries like Germany, Norway, and Sweden, among others, to meet a total estimated cost of around €3 billion.

However, despite securing commitments from 18 countries, there have been challenges in fully funding the initiative. There remains a funding gap that needs to be addressed to purchase and deliver the full cache of ammunition. The initiative highlights broader concerns about the European defense industry's capacity to scale up production and meet urgent military needs.

The Czech government is actively working with various international suppliers to finalize procurement agreements. The first batch of ammunition is expected to arrive in Ukraine in June, indicating a successful initial phase of this ambitious project.