Def Min Pistorius: Agreement On Joint Procurement To Be Signed Today

German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius has told reporters that he believes EU defence ministers, "will sign an agreement on the joint procurement of ammunition for Ukraine today."

• Pistorius said: "Denmark and Netherlands are interested in joining German framework deals for procurement of ammunition."
• EU High Rep for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, said yesterday: “I hope that the ministers will, all of them, engage in a final discussion and agree on a very important decision. Otherwise we will be in difficulties in order to continue to supplying arms to Ukraine.”
• Borrell said this morning that he is confident that EU defence contractors can meet obligations for Ukraine: "I am confident, certainly because I am not an optimist. I am an activist."
• Euractiv warns: "After 12 months of eating into their stockpiles, there are questions about how much EU countries can share immediately without leaving themselves vulnerable."
• A senior EU official told Euractiv: “There is a real issue regarding the level of our stockpiles,“ adding that "several member states have also expressed such worries."