NATO chief: Ukraine to receive record $5 billion in US arms this year

At a press briefing ahead of the NATO Alliance’s ministerial meeting, Secretary General Mark Rutte stated that coordinated US arms purchases are expected to provide approximately $5 billion in weapon supplies for Ukraine this year, with an additional $12 billion projected for 2026.

Rutte noted that the delivery of weapons from the US to Ukraine is proceeding according to the planned schedule.

“We began in August, and our plan was to reach $4 billion by December, which amounts to roughly a billion dollars per month. We have already reached $4 billion,” he explained.

The NATO Secretary General emphasised that he expects the PURL initiative, established to manage these purchases, to remain active and that NATO members and partners should continue providing sufficient funding to sustain it.

“I am cautiously optimistic that we will also achieve this in December, receiving another billion dollars,” Rutte added.

This would bring the total US funds allocated for weapons purchases to US$5 billion in 2025. Rutte anticipates an additional $12 billion in 2026, ensuring the continuation of the PURL initiative.

“As for 2026, we expect at least $1 billion annually,” he said.

Rutte further noted that roughly two-thirds of NATO members are currently participating in the PURL initiative, although he did not provide exact figures. According to European Pravda, the actual participation rate is slightly lower.

Spain plans to provide Ukraine with around €1 billion in aid, described by Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Álvarez as a broad support package. The European Union continues to be Ukraine’s main donor for defence assistance. Poland has pledged an additional $100 million by the end of the year to purchase American weapons and strengthen Ukraine’s defence capabilities. Denmark recently announced its 28th military aid package for Ukraine, valued at over $217 million.

By Tamilla Hasanova