Estonia and Lithuania Step Up Contributions to Ukraine Through PURL Program

Estonia and Lithuania have announced new steps to support Ukraine by joining NATO's Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) initiative, which involves purchasing weapons from the U.S. for transfer to Kyiv.

The Gaze reports on it, referring to European Pravda.

Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur said ahead of a meeting of NATO defense ministers in Brussels that Estonia would deliver a large batch of drones worth tens of millions of dollars to Ukraine this week and would join the purchase of weapons from the US under NATO's Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) initiative.

According to Pevkur, there has been a recent slowdown in military aid to Ukraine, so Tallinn has decided to increase its support. The delivery of drones will be an additional contribution by Estonia to strengthening Ukraine's defense capabilities.

In addition, the country will join the Baltic-Northern package within the PURL initiative, which provides for joint purchases of weapons for Ukraine. Estonia's contribution, as noted by the Minister, will amount to $12 million.

“And, of course, we have to see what else we can do for Ukraine,” Pevkur stressed.

Lithuania also announced its accession to NATO's PURL initiative, aimed at purchasing weapons from the US for transfer to Ukraine. This was announced by Lithuanian Defense Minister Dovilė Šakalienė during a meeting of Alliance defense ministers in Brussels.

As part of this initiative, Lithuania will allocate $30 million to purchase weapons for the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

“If necessary, we can transfer this money today, and we very much hope that the next package will be formed as soon as possible,” Šakalienė said.

As The Gaze informed earlier, at least seven NATO member states are expected to announce fresh financial commitments under the PURL initiative to fund the purchase of U.S.-made weapons for Ukraine.