Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala said on Tuesday that twenty countries have pledged to buy half a million shells intended for Ukraine’s army from outside Europe.

The Czech Republic has taken the lead in an international fundraising effort to buy ammunition for the Ukrainian army, which is facing shortages in its war with Russia.

EU countries had pledged to deliver one million shells to Kiev before the end of March, but could not, due to lack of sufficient production capacity.

Prague nevertheless asserts that it has found large stocks of shells, totaling 800,000, available for purchase outside the Old Continent.

“I am happy that today twenty countries have joined our initiative, from Canada to Poland, passing through Germany and the Netherlands,” said Mr. Fiala during a visit to Washington.

“Thanks to them we are able to supply 500,000 shells. We estimate that other traditions will follow”.

Prime Minister Fiala had recently said that the first deliveries could take place in June.

Countries participating in the initiative also include the Baltic states, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal and Slovenia, according to reports in the Czech press.

According to the head of the Czech government, there is no reason why the donor countries should not be able to deliver “a million additional shells in the next twelve months”.

According to the Financial Times, the purchase of these 800,000 shells will cost $1.5 billion.

However, Tomas Kopaczny, the Czech commissioner for the reconstruction of Ukraine, estimated on Tuesday, speaking to his country’s radio station, that the amount to be spent could be twice that.