NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has announced €2.4 billion worth of framework contracts for ammunition production, both for Ukraine and for replenishing NATO member countries’ stockpiles.

Stoltenberg noted during a press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv that last year NATO understood that they need to replenish ammunition stocks.

Stoltenberg also mentioned the meeting with the defence industry’s representatives in June.

"There is no defence without industry. Now I can confirm that NATO has framework contracts for the production of basic ammunition worth €2.4 billion, including €1 billion in already signed contracts. These are 155-mm artillery ammunition, anti-tank weapons, and ammunition for main battle tanks," he said.

Stoltenberg said the Defence Industries Forum, which will be held tomorrow, on 29 September, in Kyiv, can become an additional opportunity in the increasing production context.

Stoltenberg also mentioned the NATO-Industry Forum in Stockholm next week as an additional opportunity.

"We need firm contracts. Because then there will be investments and establishment of production."

Julianne Smith, the US Ambassador to NATO, said NATO intends to increase its production of ammunition for Ukraine and the member countries of the Alliance which have supplied a significant portion of their weapons to Kyiv.

Before that, Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, said that the EU would fulfil its promise to supply Ukraine with one million rounds of ammunition by 2024.