Meeting between Zelenskyy and NATO Secretary General: key questions
Photo: meeting between Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Mark Rutte (Getty Images)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. They discussed the effectiveness and further expansion of the PURL initiative, according to Zelenskyy’s statement.
During the meeting, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked NATO for supporting Ukraine and highlighted the PURL initiative, a joint effort by NATO and the United States that allows the purchase of American weapons with financial backing from Alliance member states.
He noted that two months after its launch, the program had already reached $2.1 billion in funding, stressing the importance of increasing both contributions and the number of participating countries.
The discussion also focused on the risks posed by the escalation of Russian aggression. Zelenskyy emphasized that violations of NATO airspace were not mistakes but deliberate actions by Russia.
Zelenskyy had spoken with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte ahead of the UN General Assembly meetings in New York. According to him, Ukraine presented partners with its urgent need for air defense systems and missiles, which could significantly affect the course of the war and limit Russia’s ability to continue its attacks.
On September 16, the administration of US President Donald Trump approved the first two packages of military aid for Ukraine under the PURL program.
