A plan led by the Czech Republic to purchase bulk artillery ammunition for Ukraine is gaining momentum, with several countries pledging financial support and seeking suppliers outside Europe.

Czech President Petr Pavel revealed in February that Prague had identified 500,000 155mm artillery shells and 300,000 122mm rounds from sources beyond the European Union, ready to be sent to Ukraine pending funding.

Since the announcement, over a dozen countries have joined the initiative, contributing millions of dollars. Notable supporters include Canada, Germany, France, Norway, the Netherlands, and Belgium.

During a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in Ramstein, Germany on March 19, German Defense Minister Borius Pistorius announced Berlin's commitment to fund 180,000 rounds, though the exact cost remains undisclosed.

Analysts suggest that while Russia's artillery ammunition superiority won't necessarily lead to significant battlefield gains, it will provide Moscow with some breathing room.

Newcomers to the initiative include Sweden and Portugal, who disclosed contributions of $32.6 million and $108.6 million, respectively, on March 14.

Recent reports indicate that the Czechs have identified an additional 700,000 shells for potential purchase, bringing the total to 1.5 million rounds at a projected cost of $3.3 billion.

Experts estimate Russia's firepower advantage over Ukraine at 5:1, with Russian forces reportedly firing up to 10,000 shells daily, compared to Ukraine's 2,000.

Concerns linger regarding the timeline for delivering fresh ammunition to frontline Ukrainian troops. Czech national security advisor Tomas Pojar suggested that initial shipments could commence as early as June.

Prague officials have expressed willingness to negotiate with third-party vendors willing to contribute to the bulk purchase, with few exceptions such as North Korea.

French leaders, initially hesitant about procuring ammunition from abroad, have voiced support for the Czech initiative. President Emmanuel Macron endorsed the effort during a meeting with his Czech counterpart on March 5, stating, "The Czech initiative is extremely useful, we support it and we’ll participate in it."

Reports from German newspaper Bild indicate that some of the third-party suppliers include South Korea, South Africa, and Turkey.

In a joint article published on March 16, the Foreign Ministers of Poland and the Czech Republic emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, "This is not the time to be picky… Ukraine needs these missiles now. On the frontline, it does not matter where they come from."

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