Europe delivers two-thirds of pledged artillery shells to Ukraine, says foreign minister PHOTO

European countries have sent Ukraine two-thirds of the pledged 2 million artillery shells, the country's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said.

He made the remarks on his X page after a meeting with the EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas on May 20, Caliber.Az reports.

“I was glad to catch up with Kaja Kallas to thank her for inviting me to today’s EU foreign affairs council and reception in the margins of the Third EU-African Union ministerial,” Sybiha wrote.

He added, “We continue to work to increase pressure on Russia. Sanctions are an effective tool for defunding Russia's war budget and forcing it to make peace.”

“EU member states have already committed two-thirds of 2 million artillery shells, and we are working to cover the remaining third as soon as possible. I thank Kaja for her important initiative.”

“This critical period of time requires bold and big decisions both to deter Russia and advance Ukraine’s EU accession. We agreed on the need to move both processes forward,” Sybiha added.

Since the outbreak of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, European countries and the wider Western alliance have been a key source of military and economic support for Kyiv. The delivery of munitions, weapons systems, and financial aid has been crucial in enabling Ukraine to sustain its defence against Russia’s aggression.

Sanctions imposed by the EU and its allies aim to cripple Russia’s war economy by targeting key sectors such as energy, finance, and defense. According to Ukrainian officials, these sanctions have significantly limited Moscow’s ability to finance the conflict, though Russia continues to seek alternative funding routes.

Moreover, Ukraine’s EU accession talks, which accelerated following the invasion, remain a critical diplomatic front. Kyiv views EU membership as a long-term guarantee of its sovereignty and security, while Brussels considers it a strategic priority to stabilise the region.  

By Khagan Isayev