Multiple European defense and security sources have told CNN that there are serious concerns at just how much of Europe’s ammunition has been used on the battlefield and not replaced. There's a sense that another turning point is approaching in Russia's war in Ukraine
(Larry MacDougal via AP) Larry MacDougal/MCDOL/AP But at the same time people need to understand that this is serious, something has to be done urgently.”Ī General Dynamics F-16C Fighting Falcon fighter jet (serial 84-1236, belonging to USAF (United States Air Force) 64 Aggressor Squadron) at Nellis AFB near Las Vegas, Nevada on Feb. You don’t want to demonstrate your vulnerabilities to any potential aggressor. However, since the start of the war, European nations have donated a wide range of weapons, from antitank missiles to artillery rounds and tank shells.Īs Richard Shirreff, a retired British Army general and NATO’s former deputy supreme allied commander Europe, told CNN: “This is critical to national and European security. It’s hard to get exact numbers on exactly what weapons individual nations currently hold in their arsenals due to the sensitivity of the information. It’s all the more surprising for the fact that the donating of this military equipment – and crucially, ammunition – has left the stock cupboards of European militaries looking rather bare, according to defense officials and experts. But given the scale of the challenge and how long it’s dragged on, the generosity of European leaders – often cast as cynical and self-interested – and their publics has been a surprise to some observers.
In the 12 months since President Vladimir Putin ordered Russian troops to invade Ukraine, one of the biggest surprises has been the willingness with which Western countries, especially in Europe, have handed over increasingly sophisticated military equipment for Ukrainian use.Īt times the debates around sending certain types of weapons, most notably tanks, have been testy and caused high-level diplomatic spats.
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