Ukraine Needs $15 Bln Annually to Sustain NATO’s PURL Initiative – Zelenskyy

Ukraine requires $15 billion each year to fully fund the NATO-backed Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL), President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

The Gaze reports this, referring to Ukrinform.

Speaking to journalists, Zelenskyy thanked outgoing NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte for reminding allied leaders of the financing gap.

According to the president, Ukraine still faces an $800 million shortfall for the current year, though that gap has narrowed after the Netherlands approved an additional $700 million contribution.

Zelenskyy underlined that while European partners remain “strong and reliable,” PURL provides Ukraine with a mechanism to purchase essential U.S.-made weapons systems that European stockpiles cannot supply, particularly air defense systems, which remain Kyiv’s top priority amid ongoing Russian strikes on cities and infrastructure.

The Ukrainian leader added that Washington is likely to remain open to continued cooperation under PURL. “They earn money from it. This aligns with their current policy – they support Ukraine not for free, but they support us. PURL works,” he noted.

So far, 21 nations have joined the PURL initiative, collectively pledging $4.18 billion.

Later, Zelenskyy also reported “near-continuous communication” with Ukraine’s partners in these days. During a meeting in London alongside UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, he held a joint discussion with leaders and senior officials from Finland, Italy, Poland, Norway, the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Turkey, as well as the NATO Secretary General and the presidents of the European Council and European Commission.

The talks focused on ensuring that Europe's position is reflected in all decisions relevant to the continent, Zelenskyy said. He stressed that reinforcing Ukraine’s air defenses, securing additional contributions to PURL, and obtaining emergency energy assistance remain essential priorities to maintain the country’s resilience under intensifying Russian attacks.

As The Gaze reported earlier, 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.

Read more on The Gaze: PURL and the New Era of Western Support: Funding in Europe, Weapons in America, Results in Ukraine