NATO secretary general outlines this year's shipments of US weapons for Ukraine's Armed Forces

At a press briefing before the Alliance's ministerial meeting, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said that coordinated US arms purchases should bring about US$5 billion in weapon supplies for Ukraine this year and roughly US$12 billion more in 2026.

According to the NATO secretary general, the supply of weapons from the US to Ukraine is in line with the planned pace.

"We began in August and our plan was to get US$4 billion [before December – ed.], which is equivalent to a billion dollars monthly. And we have US$4 billion," the official explained.

Rutte made it clear that he expects the PURL initiative, established for these purchases, to remain active and that NATO members and partners should provide sufficient funding to sustain it.

"I am cautiously optimistic that we will also achieve this in December [receive one more billion dollars – ed.]," Rutte said.

It means that the amount of funds allocated for the purchase of weapons in the US will reach US$5 billion in 2025. Rutte anticipates another US$12 billion next year, which means the PURL initiative will continue.

"As for 2026, we expect to have at least US$1 billion a year," the secretary general said.

Rutte added that roughly two-thirds of NATO members are now taking part in PURL, without giving exact figures. According to European Pravda, the actual number is currently slightly lower.

Ukraine's NATO ambassador expects another €1 billion for PURL this year.

Ukraine's Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal spoke with the NATO chief earlier about strengthening Ukraine's air defence