US ambassador to NATO believes that peace in Ukraine as close as it's ever been

US Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker has said peace in Ukraine is as close as it's ever been, although it has not yet been determined when the Ukrainian and US presidents will sign a peace agreement to end Russia's unprovoked aggression.

The peace agreement will be signed "when the time comes", but the parties are now close to peace in Ukraine, Whitaker believes.

"I keep saying this, because not only do I believe it, but I also am watching very carefully what's happening in the negotiations. I think we're as close as we've ever been to peace in Ukraine," US Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker said.

Whitaker added that peace deal documents will be signed by Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy "as appropriate and when the time comes".

"I think we should continue to pray for peace, but at the same time, make sure that Ukraine continues to have, through PURL [Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List] and other initiatives, all they need to defend themselves," he said.

The United States is expecting NATO member states to announce new pledges to purchase American weapons for Ukraine on 12 February.

Whitaker also named the three countries that have bought the most US weapons for Ukraine under the PURL programme: Germany, the Netherlands and Norway.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte pledged during a visit to Ukraine that he would find more than US$15 billion to purchase weapons for Ukraine's Armed Forces under the PURL programme.