German Def Min: Air-Defence Ammunition Sufficient Until Summer

Reuters carrying comments from German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius appearing to counter a growing concern that dwindling ammunition supplies in Western countries may threaten Ukraine's war effort.

• Pistorius said that ammunition for German-made Gepard anti-aircraft systems, used by Ukraine, "...should suffice until the summer."
• US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin yesterday voiced concerns that diminishing Western munition reserves could become critical if measures aren't put in place to increase production and reduce waste.
• Austin said Ukraine has “used a lot of artillery ammunition. We’re going to do everything we can, working with our international partners to ensure that we give them as much ammunition as quickly as possible.”
• Adding to concerns over future Ukraine security packages, WaPo reported comments yesterday from a “senior US administration official” stating: “We will continue to try to impress upon [Ukraine] that we can’t do anything and everything forever. ’As long as it takes’ pertains to the amount of conflict. It doesn’t pertain to the amount of assistance.”
• The comments were dismissed by White House NSC Spox John Kirby but reflect a mood in allied capitals that popular support for continued assistance to Ukraine may be eroding.