Ukraine Could Receive $5 Bln Through PURL Initiative by Year’s End, Rutte Says
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said Ukraine is on track to receive up to $5 billion in U.S.-sourced military equipment under the PURL program by the end of the year.
The Gaze reports this, referring to his interview with El País.
Rutte noted that the PURL mechanism is delivering around $1 billion in weapons per month. The program allows allied countries to finance American weapons for Kyiv directly from U.S. stockpiles, bypassing lengthy procurement procedures.
“Europe has done a lot, but there are capabilities only the U.S. can provide,” Rutte said, adding that President Donald Trump has signaled readiness to supply U.S. equipment funded by European partners. “Spain’s participation is also important – it helps save lives, protect critical infrastructure and enables Ukraine to strike back.”
Rutte stressed that despite shrinking stockpiles after nearly four years of high-intensity war, European militaries will continue supplying Ukraine from their own reserves.
The NATO chief also expressed cautious optimism about ending the war before the close of 2025. “I want to do everything possible to help bring peace to Ukraine,” he said. “I fully share President Trump’s view – this slaughter has to end.”
Rutte underscored the scale of Russia’s losses, describing them as historically catastrophic. More than one million Russian soldiers have been killed or seriously wounded, he said, with roughly 20,000 casualties every month, despite minimal territorial gains.
He pointed to the example of Pokrovsk, where Russia has been attacking for over a year and a half without establishing full control. “More Russian troops died trying to seize that city than the number of civilians who once lived there,” he remarked.
Even if fighting stops, Rutte warned, Europe cannot assume the danger has passed. “Peace does not mean Russia stops being a threat. Any peace deal must be followed by sustained investment. Russia will remain a long-term strategic challenge,” he said.
As The Gaze reported earlier, eight northern and Baltic NATO allies have announced a joint military aid package for Ukraine worth $500 million as part of the Priority Ukrainian Requirements List (PURL initiative).
Read more on The Gaze: PURL and the New Era of Western Support: Funding in Europe, Weapons in America, Results in Ukraine