“We will keep our promise” to deliver one million munitions to kyiv, assures the President of the European Council

“We will keep our promise” to deliver a million munitions to kyiv, promises Wednesday November 29 on France Inter Charles Michel, President of the European Council. The European Union had set itself the objective of providing one million rounds of ammunition for Ukrainian artillery by March 2024. But Charles Michel recognizes that “It’s going to take a little longer than we would have liked.”. “Several additional months will undoubtedly be necessary”he admits, before adding that “everything must be done to achieve the objective” million in 2024.

Faced with these difficulties in producing ammunition, Charles Michel considers that it is necessary “more than ever to be serious about European defense, with European industrial capacities in this sector”. It particularly highlights the fact that several European countries such as France “have a lot of technology and great capacity” on the subject of defense. “The challenge now is to really bring together European countries to build a European defense capacity”he emphasizes.

The President of the European Council believes that these production difficulties are undoubtedly the fact that “for years European countries, counting on what we call the peace dividend, have perhaps invested less, less supported the development of our European armies”. But Charles Michel considers that from now on “to be taken seriously and to be able to have influence and protect our interests, it is important to have operational means of defense and security”.

Charles Michel praised the efforts of European countries which have shown themselves “extremely united” since the start of the conflict. He recognizes that this is not “not simple”. He explains, for example, that the financial support of the 27 “assumes that European governments accept the idea of ​​continuing to mobilize resources”. “Massive sanctions against Russia can have collateral effects, including on ourselves”, he adds. Despite these difficulties, Charles Michel insists on the determination of European leaders to “continue to support Ukraine”.

The President of the European Council was also keen to show “the importance” of the future EU-Balkans Summit, which is to be held in mid-December in Brussels. During this meeting “the 27 heads of state and government will concentrate a lot of efforts to take additional decisions in terms of support for Ukraine”, says the President of the European Council. He therefore expects decisions “financially, militaryly and politically”. Charles Michel “hope” Besides “a decision to start Ukraine’s accession” to the European Union.