In the midst of the counteroffensive launched by Kyiv, NATO faces the challenge of supplying ammunition and spare parts in the long term for Western weaponry destroyed in Ukraine without weakening its own defensive arsenal. Russia has displayed images of disabled or abandoned US and German tanks as trophies and claims to have destroyed 25–30% of the weaponry sent by Western countries to Ukraine. While it is not possible to independently verify these figures, it is clear that Ukrainian forces are suffering significant losses as they attempt to break through enemy lines.
According to analysts, this is only the beginning, as Kyiv is expected to launch a broader offensive in the future. For Ukraine’s international allies, the summer is shaping up to be a challenging time, as losses are expected to mount and successes are slow to materialize. It is crucial that training programs for Ukrainian units continue so that they can generate strength, and there is also a need for the defense industry to supply Ukraine with military hardware for the long term, as the country is completely dependent on the outside in this regard.
Despite European efforts to speed up production, some countries have warned about the limits of their capabilities to replace damaged weaponry. The United States has already pledged additional military aid to Ukraine, and more announcements are expected during the upcoming NATO summit. The European Commission has presented a plan to accelerate ammunition production in the EU, with the goal of reaching a volume of one million shells produced annually. In addition to ammunition supply, maintenance of damaged Western equipment is also a challenge, and repair centers are being established in countries such as Poland, Slovakia, and Romania.
In short, NATO faces the challenge of supplying ammunition and spare parts for destroyed Western weaponry in Ukraine over the long term without weakening its own defense. Ukrainian forces are suffering losses as they attempt to break through enemy lines, and the battle is expected to intensify in the coming months. Ukraine’s international allies are committed to supporting the country during its offensive, but they also face limitations in terms of replacement capacity and weapons supply. Steps are being taken to increase ammunition production and establish maintenance centers to repair damaged equipment.