EU FMS Agree To Send Ukraine 1 Mln Ammo Rounds

3/20/2023 8:14:44 PM

(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) BRUSSELS, March 20 (KUNA) -- Foreign Minister of Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba, addressed on Monday EU Foreign Ministers Council via video conference, and briefed them about the latest developments on the ground and Ukraine's military priorities, notably the urgent need for ammunition.
In a joint session gathering EU foreign affairs and defence ministers, the Council then agreed on the three-track proposal to urgently provide Ukraine with artillery ammunition, either coming from existing stocks or jointly procured, said an EU statement tonight.
'Today, the Council has confirmed its agreement on this three-track approach. Today's decision is important by its ambition - we will work under very tight deadlines because the purpose is to provide one million ammunition in one year ', said Josep Borrell, EU High Representative , in a statement.
In the margins of the meeting, 17 EU member states and Norway signed the European Defence Agency (EDA) project arrangement for the collaborative procurement of ammunition to aid Ukraine and replenish member states' national stockpiles.
The Council then discussed Ukrainian President Volodymy Zelensky's peace formula and expressed its support and said it
will continue to conduct outreach with Ukraine and partners to promote the plan and a just peace.
Ministers touched on the decision of the International Criminal Court to issue an arrest warrant against President Putin, in connection with alleged crimes of deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia. The Council will continue working on identifying those involved in the deportation of children with the aim of adopting further restrictive measures, it said.
They also touched on the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which was extended right before the Council meeting, and stressed the substantial EU contribution to the efforts to support the export of Ukrainian food through the Solidarity Lanes.
The Council had an exchange of views on the situation in Tunisia, and decided to impose sanctions on additional 8 individuals and one entity under the Iran human rights violations.
Borrell informed EU ministers about the agreement reached in Ohrid , North Macedonia on Saturday, in the context of the latest high-level meeting of the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue.
A joint session gathering EU foreign affairs and defence ministers, took stock of the progress made in the implementation of the EU Strategic Compass, one year from its approval.
The Compass sets out an ambitious path to further strengthen the EU as a capable actor and reliable partner in security and defence over the next 10 years.
The Council approved conclusions on Afghanistan and EU priorities at the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and extended the mandate of operation EUNAFVOR MED IRINI until 31 March 2025. (end)
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