Circle of countries funding US weapons for Kyiv set to expand, says Ukraine's ambassador to NATO
Aliona Hetmanchuk, Head of Ukraine's diplomatic mission to NATO, has said the circle of countries financing US weapons purchases for Ukraine under the Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) programme is expected to expand, as Ukrainian diplomats have successfully reduced the number of states ignoring the initiative.
Source: Hetmanchuk, speaking to journalists in Brussels ahead of a NATO ministerial meeting, as reported by European Pravda
Details: Hetmanchuk explained that some countries had insisted that PURL was incompatible with their policies, but their position has since changed.
Previously, two of Europe's economic leaders, France and Italy, had declined to support the project. There is no official information yet on whether their positions have shifted, although sources suggested France might reconsider. To date, 25 countries participate in PURL: 23 NATO members and two partner countries, New Zealand and Australia.
Hetmanchuk added that Ukraine's goal is to have at least one or two new countries join the initiative at every NATO-Ukraine Council ministerial or Ukraine Defence Contact Group (also known as the Ramstein format) meeting. The next such meeting will take place on 12 February with the participation of Ukraine's Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov.
She also indicated that funding could potentially expand beyond NATO, stressing the importance of burden-sharing not only among NATO members but also with partner countries that have the resources and share the Alliance's understanding of supporting Ukraine.
Hetmanchuk further explained that the shift in the positions of sceptical countries came after clear arguments were put to them that PURL primarily serves Ukraine's defence needs rather than the US administration, and that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had personally underscored its importance for Ukraine.
Background:
- Earlier, Hetmanchuk named the six countries that have contributed the most to Ukraine's US weapons purchases.
- Despite issues with Greenland, NATO member states are prepared to purchase US arms for Ukrainian forces.
- The Alliance has also fully revised its role in assisting Ukraine, with 80% of weapons now supplied to Kyiv through NATO channels.
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