Deputy Minister of Defence of Ukraine Anatolii Klochko: We urge our partners to join the Artillery Coalition

A year since its establishment, the Artillery Coalition continues to grow. Ukraine is eager to welcome new partner nations and suggests implementing a mechanism for sharing information on the delivery and deployment of weapons.

This statement was made by the Deputy Minister of Defence of Ukraine, Brigadier General Anatolii Klochko, during a meeting with the Deputy Commander of the Ground Forces and Operations of the French Army, Brigadier General Eric Lendroit.

The Artillery Coalition was launched in January 2024. It is one of eight Coalitions established to provide military aid tailored to the needs of the Ukrainian Defence Forces. The Coalition, which is jointly led by France and the United States, consists of 12 more nations, plus Ukraine.

The Coalition comprises countries with advanced technological capabilities to manufacture artillery systems, munitions, artillery reconnaissance assets, and fire control systems.

During the meeting, Anatolii Klochko emphasized France's leadership in the Coalition’s activities and the consolidation of partners to develop missile and artillery forces.

The Deputy Minister highlighted that Ukraine is eager to extend the Coalition to include other countries collaborating with Ukraine.

According to Anatolii Klochko, the expansion of the Coalition's activities is crucial for enhancing the firepower of missile and artillery forces.

He noted that following the approval of the Coalition's Roadmap this month, the next step is to outline the commitments of its members in addressing the needs of the Ukrainian Defence Forces.

The Deputy Minister outlined a quarterly update system in which partners report on the status of weapon deliveries, while Ukraine provides reports on their deployment.

General Eric Lendroit stated that the purpose of his visit to Ukraine was to listen to and evaluate Ukraine’s current military needs.

He underscored the importance of collaborating and coordinating these efforts with the appropriate NATO institution.

Deputy Minister of Defence of Ukraine for European Integration, Sergiy Boyev, noted that discussions with certain allied nations are underway to plan supplies monthly rather than quarterly. 

According to him, this is crucial for enhancing the effectiveness of Ukraine's combat operations.

During the meeting, the parties also addressed the necessity of supplying components for artillery systems and the need for artillery shells.

The Ukrainian delegation underscored the significance of establishing joint ventures within Ukraine for the production, maintenance, and repair of artillery systems, as well as the development of training facilities for personnel.