Weapons worth billions: Rutte announces first US shipments to Ukraine funded by NATO
Photo: NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte (Getty Images)
Allies have already paid for a large volume of American weapons intended for Ukraine, totaling at least two billion dollars, according to a statement by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte during a conversation with journalists in Washington.
According to Rutte, the first several billion dollars have already been transferred to the US to pay for weapons for Ukraine. Corresponding shipments of weapons have already been sent from the United States.
Rutte noted that this is only the beginning of NATO allocations for military support to Ukraine. After “a prolonged ceasefire or a peace agreement,” spending on weapons and ammunition will be significantly increased.
Additionally, Rutte unexpectedly announced that during his visit to the United States, he will meet with US President Donald Trump in Washington. This meeting was not planned in advance.
Rutte also told journalists that he supports Trump’s idea of stopping Russia’s war against Ukraine along the front line. He noted that NATO, and he personally as Secretary General of the Alliance, will do everything possible to help Trump implement peace initiatives.
PURL program
The US and NATO will supply Ukraine with weapons under the PURL (Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List) program. NATO funds will be used to purchase in the US the weapons that are most prioritized for the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
On October 15, it was announced that Ukraine received commitments from 17 NATO countries to participate in the PURL program. However, so far, following the direct launch of the program, only six countries have allocated funds to purchase American weapons for Ukraine.
