Finland chooses domestic path to support Ukraine amid NATO funding drive

Finland has opted not to participate in NATO’s new financing mechanism to support Ukraine, choosing instead to focus on a national industrial program supplying Ukrainian forces with products from Finnish companies.

Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen (Coalition Party) said the program was developed in collaboration with Ukraine to ensure maximum effectiveness, as per Finnish media.

“We have directed our resources to a national industrial program, under which we order products for Ukraine from Finnish companies across the country,” he explained.

Meanwhile, Sweden, Denmark, and Norway recently announced a combined contribution of over €400 million to Ukraine through NATO’s Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL), a funding system enabling allied countries to provide necessary military aid. This follows US President Donald Trump’s declaration that the US would supply weapons to Kyiv, with European allies covering the costs, though the exact mechanism was not detailed.

Sweden’s share, valued at $275 million, includes Patriot missile systems, air defence platforms, and anti-tank munitions. The Netherlands became the first country to commit to PURL on August 4, pledging €500 million.

Häkkänen emphasised Finland’s focus on domestic production to strengthen both Ukraine’s defence and Finland’s own military industry, noting that other countries understand Finland’s position as Russia’s neighbour.

“By helping Ukraine, we are also strengthening our own defence industry and defence capabilities,” he said.

By Tamilla Hasanova