Eighteen states pool funds to buy shells for Ukraine

The funds needed for the purchase of 800,000 pieces of artillery ammunition for Ukraine from outside the European Union have been collected, President Petr Pavel confirmed on Thursday. Altogether 18 countries are contributing finances for the Czech initiative. The badly-needed ammunition should be in Ukraine within a matter of weeks, Pavel said. Prime Minister Petr Fiala thanked the countries which are contributing finances for the 200 million euro purchase, saying Ukraine’s need of military aid is particularly pressing at the present time. The Czech Defense Ministry will be in charge of the logistics of the operation.