NATO And EU Sounding The Alarm On Reports Of Ukraine Weapons Smuggling

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Financial Times: Nato and EU sound alarm over risk of Ukraine weapons smuggling  

Countries call for greater tracking of arms to stop sales to Europe’s black market 

Nato and EU states are pushing for better tracking of weapons supplied to Ukraine in response to fears that criminal groups are smuggling them out of the country and on to Europe’s black market. 

Since Russia launched its war against Ukraine, western states have pledged more than $10bn in military support, from portable rocket launchers and armoured vehicles to rifles and vast amounts of ammunition. 

A number of Nato member states are discussing with Kyiv some form of tracking system or detailed inventory lists for weapons supplied to Ukraine, two western officials briefed on the talks told the Financial Times. 

 Ukraine’s government is setting up a more extensive weapons monitoring and tracing system with the help of western countries, a third person familiar with the situation said. 

“All these weapons land in southern Poland, get shipped to the border and then are just divided up into vehicles to cross: trucks, vans, sometimes private cars,” said one of the western officials. “And from that moment we go blank on their location and we have no idea where they go, where they are used or even if they stay in the country.” 

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Update: NATO and EU Look to Crackdown on Illegal Weapons Smuggling in Ukraine (National Interest) 

WNU Editor: The Ukraine government says reports of arms smuggling is Russian propaganda .... Ukraine says arms smuggling claims are Russian propaganda (AFP).