Ukraine conflict: Allies take measures to keep Kyiv supplied with ammunition

German Army Gepard anti-aircraft system during an exercise in 2010. (Bundeswehr/Marcus Rott)

Countries supplying Ukraine with military equipment are taking measures to prevent Kyiv from running low on ammunition. Meetings of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group and NATO defence ministers in Brussels on 14–15 February addressed the issue.

In a pre-ministerial press conference on 13 February, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said, “It is clear that we are in a race of logistics. Key capabilities like ammunition, fuel, and spare parts must reach Ukraine before Russia can seize the initiative on the battlefield. Speed will save lives.

“The war in Ukraine is consuming an enormous amount of munitions, and depleting allied stockpiles,” he noted. “The current rate of Ukraine’s ammunition expenditure is many times higher than our current rate of production. This puts our defence industries under strain.”

He cited as an example that “the waiting time for large-calibre ammunition has increased from 12 to 28 months. Orders placed today would only be delivered two-and-a-half years later”.