NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg (Photo: Reuters).
"The war in Ukraine has become a battle of ammunition," NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters after the signing of a contract at the alliance's headquarters in Brussels today, January 23.
NATO's National Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) signed the agreement on behalf of several allies. The contract, worth 1.1 billion euros ($1.2 billion), allows NATO to purchase 155mm artillery shells.
NATO officials revealed that the contract could provide approximately 220,000 artillery shells, with the first deliveries expected by the end of 2025.
According to one source, the artillery shells will be supplied by the French arms manufacturer Nexter and the German company Junghans.
Mr. Stoltenberg said that since NATO began its program to address the military stockpiling shortfalls of its allies last July, the NSPA has agreed to deals worth approximately $10 billion (9.19 billion euros). These deals include artillery shells, tank ammunition, and Patriot anti-aircraft missiles.
At a meeting next February, NATO defense ministers will discuss further measures to boost defense industry production. The NATO Secretary General said this move is absolutely necessary for the West to continue supporting Kyiv.
Last week, Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov described the country's ammunition shortage as a "firearm hunger," stating that it is a major problem for Kyiv's military after nearly two years of conflict with Russia.
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