NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte reported significant progress in providing urgent military assistance to Ukraine through the PURL initiative. This program allows NATO member countries to finance the supply of American weapons to Ukraine, and $2 billion has already been raised to support Ukrainian defense.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Increased Assistance and New Packages for Ukraine
In just a few weeks since the initiative was launched, according to Mark Rutte, substantial amounts of weapons have already arrived in Ukraine – from ammunition to advanced air defense systems. All these supplies have been funded by Alliance allies, and even larger packages of assistance are expected to arrive soon.
“In just a few weeks (since the announcement of the initiative – ed.), this mechanism has directed $2 billion in urgent assistance to Ukraine – from ammunition to advanced air defense – from the U.S. to Ukraine, funded by allies. And even more packages are on the way,” said the head of the North Atlantic Alliance.
Rutte urged allies to continue investing in similar initiatives that strengthen Ukraine’s defense capabilities. He also emphasized that the alliance and its partners are actively working on creating long-term security guarantees for Ukraine.
Plans for Security Guarantees and Expectations from the Summit in Paris
The NATO Secretary General noted that the foundation of Ukraine’s security remains its Armed Forces, which receive ongoing support from the Alliance. At the same time, the U.S. and several other countries are developing additional security guarantees for Ukraine. An important meeting of leaders from countries in the coalition willing to provide such guarantees will take place in Paris on September 4. Rutte expressed hope that it will soon become clear what results can be achieved through the collective efforts of the international community.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the intensification of diplomatic efforts during his European tour, particularly in Denmark and France, and emphasized the importance of coordination with the EU and the U.S. to further strengthen support for Ukraine.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who will participate in the negotiations in Paris, stressed that the Russian Federation’s war against Ukraine could last for many more months. For Germany and France, one of the main priorities remains supporting the coalition of countries that assist Ukraine in countering aggression and ensuring its security.