8:36 a.m .: EU wants to stock up on shells and “war economy” for Ukraine
European Union defense ministers meet on Wednesday to prepare a plan for delivering ammunition to Ukraine, despite stocks under pressure, with a first emergency component worth one billion euros. The Ukrainian army, which fires thousands every day to repel the Russian invader, is facing a critical shortage of 155mm shells for its guns, its Western supporters have warned in recent weeks.
Ministers, meeting in Stockholm on Wednesday in the presence of NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and their Ukrainian counterpart Oleksiï Reznikov, must work on a three-pronged plan. The objective is to move forward for adoption on March 20 at a meeting of heads of European diplomacy.
