Meeting in Brussels Signifies a Turning Point for Allies Arming Ukraine

In the early 1980s, US-designed 155-millimeter shells rolled out of factories in Belgium, Britain, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, and Turkey. And in 2022, Australia, Bosnia, the Czech Republic, Israel, Slovakia, South Korea and Spain are among the contact group nations that will also create them.

Does Russia have access to a similar type of network?

Not really. Although Russia has traditionally been a major arms exporter, it has struggled to resupply its forces in Ukraine. Fewer countries make Soviet-era ammunition these days.

In recent months, Russia has purchased and deployed deadly Iranian-made drones in the war, Ukrainian officials say. And Russia is buying millions of artillery shells and rockets from North Korea, according to declassified US intelligence (although North Korea denies this). It is not clear whether China, which before the war said its association with Russia was unlimited, sold or gave weapons to Moscow.

Which allies are providing more ammunition to Ukraine?

The United States provides about three times more ammunition to Ukraine than all other contact group members combined, Pentagon officials say. But other nations are also making significant contributions.

Mr. LaPlante told reporters this month that the Pentagon would purchase an additional 250,000 155-millimeter rounds from various companies around the world, and Douglas R. bushthe Army’s top procurement official, said those projectiles came from five countries.

However, which countries would not say Mr. Bush

John Ismay reported from Washington, and lara jakes from Brussels.