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NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg participated in a meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council of the European Union with EU Defence Ministers in Brussels on Tuesday (14 November 2023) to discuss the protection of critical undersea infrastructure and the importance of continued support to Ukraine.

The Secretary General stressed that the sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines last year and the recent damage to the Balticconnector pipeline and cables show that infrastructure is vulnerable, and that threats are real and developing.

Since these incidents, NATO has stepped up air and naval patrols and increased presence in the Baltic and North Seas. At the Vilnius Summit in July, Allies agreed to establish a new centre on critical undersea infrastructure at NATO’s Maritime Command in the United Kingdom. NATO and the European Union have also established a task force on the resilience of critical infrastructure. “Critical infrastructure is important, and it's an area where we once again see the relevance and importance of cooperation between the NATO and the European Union,” said the Secretary General.

On the situation in Ukraine, Mr Stoltenberg highlighted that intense fighting continues. “The situation on the battlefield is difficult. And that just makes it even more important that we sustain and step up our support for Ukraine because we cannot allow President Putin to win,” said the Secretary General. “Ukraine must prevail as a sovereign independent nation in Europe and it's in our interest to support Ukraine,” he said.

European Union nations have acknowledged a promise to Ukraine to provide 1 million rounds of ammunition to the front line by early 2024 will not be met. The EU made the announcement with much fanfare earlier this year, but Germany's German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius has thrown cold water on the promise.

"The 1 million will not be reached, you have to assume that," German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said.

After a Tuesday meeting of EU defence and foreign affairs ministers in Brussels, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell also cast doubt on the goal.

"So maybe by March we will not have the 1 million shots," Mr Borrell said.

Estonia's Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur, said it was crucial to ramp up supply of the ammunition.

"Look at Russia. They are producing today more than ever. They are getting shells from North Korea. Europe cannot say that … 'Russia and North Korea can deliver and we cannot,'" he said.

Some 300,000 rounds have been delivered from existing stocks in the EU so far. With the rest becoming increasingly elusive to source, Latvian Defence Minister Andris Spruds insisted the original target should not be taken too literally.

"Well, of course, 1 million rounds are symbolic. I think aspiration and ambition is important," he said.

In Ukraine's war with Russia, 155mm artillery rounds play a pivotal role. The daily consumption of 6,000 to 7,000 shells highlights its strategic importance.

Acquiring 1 million shells could secure stability for Ukraine for at least half a year, providing a substantial advantage in sustained operations and flexibility on the battlefield, observers said.

EU Commissioner Thierry Breton insisted the industry production target of 1 million rounds could be met "but it is now upon member states to place their orders".

However, EU members put the blame on producers.

"We have all signed contracts. We've done joint procurement. So industry now has to deliver. It has to step up its game to produce more," Dutch Defence Minister Kajsa Ollongren said.

One way to get more ammunition, according to foreign policy chief Borrell, is to redirect current EU exports and prioritise Ukraine.

"About 40 per cent of the production is being exported to third countries," he said. "So maybe what we have to do is to try to shift this production to the priority one, which is the Ukrainians."

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