EU increases ammunition production amid Ukraine pleas

The European Union has announced that it will drastically increase its ammunition production this year amid Ukraine’s growing request for Western support in the war with Russia.

The decision was revealed on Friday as the ongoing war with Russia nears its second year.

According to EU internal market Commissioner Thierry Breton, the bloc will be able to churn out at least 1.3 million rounds of ammunition by the end of this year.

“We will continue to enhance our production capacity, probably around 1.3 to 1.4 million… at the end of this year and continue to increase significantly next year,” Thierry said.

“We are at a crucial moment for our collective security in Europe” he said, adding “Europe must and will continue to support Ukraine with all its means”.

The decision came after Ukraine said on Thursday that it was facing a “pressing” need for ammunition.

Ukraine warns of ammo shortage as Russia announces capture of village

Ukraine warns that Kiev forces are running low on ammunition as Russians announce the liberation of a village near Bakhmut.

Russia has time and again criticized Western support for Ukraine. French President Emmanuel Macron announced this week that Paris was sending dozens of long-range missiles to Ukraine.

"We must amplify the transformation we have begun" to respond more quickly to Ukraine's needs, Macron said in a New Year's address to the French armed forces.

On Friday, Russia summoned France's ambassador in Moscow and issued a formal complaint over his country's "growing involvement" in the conflict in Ukraine.

The move came just days after Moscow said it had killed a group of French mercenaries in a strike on the northeastern town of Kharkiv.

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