High rep: EU nearing goal of two million shells for Ukraine

EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission Kaja Kallas has said that the EU reached 80 per cent of its commitment to deliver 2 million rounds of ammunition to Ukraine.

The announcement comes as EU foreign ministers gather in Brussels for a new round of talks on supporting Ukraine amid its ongoing war with Russia, Caliber.Az reports via Russian media. 

"I'm pleased to report that 80 per cent of the ammunition initiative has been completed, but we must do more to reach the target of 2 million shells by the end of the year," Kallas told reporters ahead of the meeting.

The ammunition pledge is part of a broader EU strategy to boost Ukraine’s defense capabilities in the face of Russia’s continued military aggression. The initiative, launched last year, aims to provide both immediate battlefield support and longer-term strategic backing for Kyiv. Meanwhile, the Kremlin has dismissed the significance of Western arms deliveries, maintaining that no specific weapons system can shift the course of what Moscow refers to as its special military operation. 

Russian officials have repeatedly condemned the West’s involvement, warning that continued arms shipments not only impede prospects for peace but also draw NATO deeper into the conflict.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov recently reiterated that any shipment containing weapons for Ukraine would be considered a legitimate military target. He also accused the US and its allies of participating directly in the war - not only through the supply of weapons, but also by training Ukrainian forces in NATO countries such as the UK, Germany, and Italy. Moscow has warned that what it calls the West’s “militarisation of Ukraine” risks serious consequences and undermines chances for diplomatic resolution.

By Naila Huseynova