Japan joins PURL initiative for Ukraine, report reveals how it will aid
The country plans to allocate funds for non-lethal weapons (Photo: Getty Images)
Japan intends to join a NATO initiative that enables the supply of US-made ammunition, equipment, and other resources to Ukraine, according to the NHK website.
Read also: Procurement of weapons from partners: Ukraine expects increase in contributions to PURL program
Several NATO officials told the broadcaster that Japan is expected to formally announce its intention to contribute to the initiative in the near future.
Officials clarified that Tokyo will allocate funds exclusively for non-lethal equipment, which may include radar systems and body armor.
“Even non-lethal equipment is essential for Ukraine,” one NATO official said, adding that Japan’s participation in the PURL initiative marks a significant step forward.
Alliance representatives also noted that Japan has already informed several NATO member states and Ukraine about the plan.
PURL program
After Donald Trump returned to the US presidency, the country reduced its aid to Ukraine and did not allocate new assistance packages in the previous format.
In July 2025, the US and NATO launched the Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) program. It предусматривает the supply of US-made weapons to Ukraine funded by European countries. This allows Kyiv to receive air defense systems, missiles, ammunition, and other weaponry.
By September, the first deliveries of military equipment under the PURL program had already arrived in Ukraine.
At the end of December, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that more than 20 countries, specifically 24, had joined the PURL initiative.
We also reported that Albania joined PURL in mid-January 2026.
