NATO pushes for common standards to tackle shortfalls in artillery munitions

FILE PHOTO: Ukrainian service members of the 55th Separate Artillery Brigade fire a Caesar self-propelled howitzer towards Russian troops, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, near the town of Avdiivka in Donetsk region, Ukraine May 31, 2023. REUTERS/Viacheslav Ratynskyi

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The heads of leading arms-making companies meet NATO defence ministers this week to discuss increasing production and standardising artillery shells as the war in Ukraine depletes stocks.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg warned in February that Kyiv was burning through shells much faster than Western countries could produce them. The start of the Ukrainian counteroffensive is certain to lead to even greater use.