Already 21 countries have joined NATO's arms aid initiative for Kiev under the title “Ukraine's Priority Needs List” (PURL - (Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List), and the monetary value of the commitments reached $4.18 billion, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sibiga announced today, quoted by Ukrinform.
Kiev's first diplomat wrote this in a post on the social network “Facebook“, the Ukrainian news agency specifies.
On Wednesday evening, during a meeting of foreign ministers of NATO member states in Brussels, the alliance's Secretary General Mark Rutte said that the investments had exceeded $4 billion, Reuters reported. He pointed out that over two-thirds of NATO countries (a total of 32, including Bulgaria) had committed to the initiative.
Before the meeting of NATO foreign ministers, Rutte expressed his desire for the alliance countries to spend a total of over $1 billion per month next year on the purchase of American weapons for Kiev and their delivery to Ukraine, DPA reported. The money will also be used for interceptors for air defense systems, the agency explained.
PURL is an initiative launched by the United States and NATO to supply Ukraine with strategically important military equipment by enabling alliance members to finance the delivery of U.S.-made weapons and equipment. The program allows partner countries to finance procurement according to a priority list of needs for Ukraine agreed upon with the United States and NATO.
The initiative allows for the coordination of investments so that funding is targeted and rapid. Instead of separate procurement efforts, each country contributes financially to a joint package that the United States uses to secure the necessary weapons and equipment.
“Australia and New Zealand will also contribute to PURL, they are the first NATO partners to do so. And that means that allies and partners have already committed more than $4 billion,“ Rutte told reporters on Wednesday in Brussels, Reuters notes.
Bulgarian Foreign Minister Georg Georgiev also took part in the meeting on Wednesday. He stressed that Bulgaria remains committed to supporting Ukraine, as this is support for the international legal order and for the principle that force cannot prevail over right, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced.
Minister Georgiev welcomed the active diplomatic efforts to end hostilities and to develop a framework for sustainable peace. “We are at a historic moment that requires firmness, responsibility and a clear commitment to our common values and security,“ Bulgaria's first diplomat said.
One billion dollars from the NATO-Ukraine Council meeting alone
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Sibiga said on Wednesday that as a result of the NATO-Ukraine Council meeting held in Brussels on Wednesday alone, another $1 billion had come to Brussels. the alliance's arms initiative for Kiev, Ukrinform reported. The head of Ukrainian diplomacy noted that compared to previous meetings of the NATO-Ukraine Council in which he participated, this one on Wednesday was the most productive in terms of contributions and decisions made for Ukrainian defense.
“We have estimated about one billion dollars in new confirmations from our allies to support our army under the PURL program. During the meeting, five countries declared their commitment,” said Szybiga. He added that it is especially important for him to feel unity and determination in supporting Ukraine at this moment. Szybiga thanked each country participating in the program.
In his evening video address to the nation on Wednesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky mentioned Norway, Luxembourg, Poland and Canada, noting that other countries have already decided on new contributions to the initiative, drew attention Ukrinform.
“There is a decision by the partners to purchase weapons from America – under the PURL program. Today, Norway announced a new contribution to PURL – thank you. Luxembourg - too. Canada will increase its contribution. We know about Poland's contribution. Yesterday, there was a decision from the Netherlands. There will also be initial contributions from non-NATO countries. I would like to personally thank everyone“, Zelensky said, adding that he expects a report on the full results of the program “List of Priority Needs of Ukraine“.
The Ukrainian president emphasized that Ukrainian diplomacy has a special task - to keep up with the US and other partners in defense programs and projects, Ukrinform adds.
Readiness also to send troops to Ukraine
Estonia has expressed its readiness in Brussels to send military units to Ukraine, Reuters reported. Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna announced this intention of his country, provided that security guarantees for Kiev include the deployment of peacekeeping forces.
In addition, a day after Tsahkna's statement in Brussels, the Estonian government approved a draft law on the country's accession to the Convention on the Establishment of an International Claims Commission for Ukraine. This was reported on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Baltic state.
„Russia must compensate for all damage it has caused through violations of international law. The Claims Commission, with the help of a functioning register of damages, will help ensure that impunity does not prevail and that Ukraine receives fair compensation,“ Tsahkna said.
Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braže said in Brussels, referring to Russia, that no one should try to achieve results in peace talks that they are unable to achieve on the battlefield.
On the other hand, Germany announced an increase in its funding for NATO's weapons program, DPA reported. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadeful announced in Brussels that his country would provide an additional $200 million for the purchase and supply of American weapons and ammunition to Ukraine. This exceeds by about $25 million the earlier promised by Defense Minister Boris Pistorius - 150 million euros, or $174.6 million, DPA emphasizes.
Poland and Norway will increase funding to reach a combined $500 million for purchases of American weapons, the agency added. The governments of Australia and New Zealand have decided to provide Ukraine with a military aid package worth more than $70 million.