Germany has pledged to allocate 576 million euros towards a Czech-led initiative aimed at purchasing artillery ammunition for Ukraine.
According to a Reuters report, this financial commitment will fund the acquisition of 180,000 shells, marking a significant contribution to bolstering Ukraine's defense efforts against Russian aggression.
This announcement follows last month's statement by German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, detailing an aid package worth 478 million euros destined for Ukraine, not including the support earmarked for the Czech ammunition initiative.
With Germany's latest contribution, the total aid from the country surpasses one billion euros.
"The total cost of both support measures is more than one billion euros," stated a representative from the German Ministry of Defense.
Germany is set to cover 40% of the costs associated with the Czech initiative, playing a pivotal role in the collaborative effort to provide Ukraine with much-needed military aid.
A Growing Coalition
The Czech initiative has garnered support from a coalition of 15 countries, including prominent nations such as Germany, France, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Portugal, Belgium, Poland, and Canada. These countries have rallied together to support Ukraine, although not all have disclosed the specifics of their financial contributions.
Originally aimed at providing Ukraine with at least 800,000 rounds of ammunition, the initiative's ambitions have since expanded, potentially reaching up to 1.5 million rounds.
This increase was made possible through an agreement signed by participants of the Czech initiative, including nations outside of Europe, ensuring that Kyiv will receive more ammunition than initially planned.
