By KYIV. Nov 15 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Ukraine’s Western partners announced new efforts to continue providing Ukraine with military and financial aid, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) has said in a its Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment as of November 14.
Germany announced a new aid package to Ukraine on November 13 that includes ten Leopard tanks, 14 Bandvagn 206 tracked all-terrain vehicles, and 1,020 155mm shells, and Reuters reported on November 12 that German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s governing coalition has agreed in principle to double Germany’s military aid to Ukraine next year to EUR 8 billion, it said.
The ISW also said NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg emphasized on November 14 that sustained NATO support for Ukraine is important as the current situation on the battlefield is difficult.
EU Foreign Affairs Representative Josep Borrell stated on November 13 that Ukraine is the EU’s top priority and that the EU’s commitment will not waver. Ukrainian Foreign Minister of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba highlighted the importance of speeding up the EU’s plan to supply Ukraine with one million shells by March 2024 during a meeting with the EU Council of Foreign Ministers on November 13, but Politico reported on November 14 that German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius expressed doubt that the EU would be able to meet this target, it said.
Politico also reported that Borrell stated that the European defense industry is exporting about 40% of its current production to third countries and urged European countries to shift exports to Ukraine as “priority one.” Borrell stated that the EU’s ability to supply Ukraine with one million shells “will depend on how quickly orders come to the industry and how quickly the industry reacts.”
Stoltenberg also reiterated on November 14 that NATO has put in place framework contracts worth EUR 2.4 billion, including EUR 1 billion worth of firm orders, and stated that NATO countries are increasing production in order to reach the target of one million shells by March 2024.
Politico reported that Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur also announced that Estonia offered five European companies a procurement offer for EUR 280 million worth of 155mm artillery ammunition, the ISW said.
