European Union countries plan to deliver one million pieces of artillery ammunition to Ukraine in the next 12 months, EU diplomats told DPA today.

Countries should immediately deliver ammunition from their existing stockpiles to the war-torn country.

In addition, EU member states should jointly purchase more 155 mm shells in the next six months to support Ukraine in the longer term.

EU countries are to be partially reimbursed for their ammunition shipments through an EU fund that has served in recent months to finance arms shipments to Kiev.

Initial plans call for a total of two billion euros ($2,1 billion) to be made available for munitions to support Kiev.

The deal comes amid concerns that Ukraine could run out of important types of ammunition in the near future.