Zelensky: Ukraine needs $15B annually for PURL program
The Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) program, under which NATO member states finance the purchase of weapons for Ukraine, requires USD 15 billion per year.
This was announced to journalists by President Volodymyr Zelensky, according to Ukrinform.
"Today, I want to thank Mark Rutte for reminding all leaders about the need to find additional funds. Because we need USD 15 billion (ed.) per year for the PURL program. He said so. And this year, we are still short of about $800 million (ed.), not $1.5 billion. But today, the Netherlands — we are grateful for the positive decision on the program — has allocated USD 700 million," he said.
Zelensky noted that Europeans are strong partners of Ukraine, but the PURL initiative makes it possible to buy weapons in the US that Europeans do not have. At the same time, he expressed the opinion that the US will continue to be open to this program.
“They are making money. It suits their current policy that they support Ukraine not for free, but they do support it. PURL works. We are buying air defense systems first and foremost,” he said.
In addition, the President noted that in any case, it is worth fighting for US assistance so that they continue to support Ukraine and put pressure on Russia.
As reported by Ukrinform, 21 countries have already joined the PURL program with a total commitment of USD 4.18 billion.