Japan is in talks to supply 155mm artillery shells to the United States to replenish supplies for Ukraine’s counteroffensive, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing unnamed sources.
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“Japan is considering supplying 155mm artillery shells to the US under a 2016 agreement that allows the two countries to exchange ammunition as part of their long-standing security alliance. The shells will help replenish US stockpiles as they support Ukraine’s war effort,” the newspaper said , citing people familiar with the talks.
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The publication notes that it is not known exactly how many shells will be delivered.
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“We continue to work together with Japan and … other countries around the world to provide assistance to Ukraine,” the newspaper quoted a Pentagon spokesman as saying.
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Earlier, Reuters reported that the United States found a way to buy from Japan, whose export rules prohibit the sale of lethal products abroad, batches of TNT for the production of NATO 155-millimeter caliber shells needed by Ukraine.
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Artillery of 155 mm caliber is used by NATO countries. The United States supplied Ukraine with long-range M777 howitzers of 155 mm caliber, Ukrainian troops are actively using them to shell the cities of the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics. Also, the Ukrainian troops were supplied with German PzH 2000 self-propelled artillery mounts, Polish Krab self-propelled guns and French CAESAR self-propelled guns using shells of this caliber.
