Finland will join the PURL mechanism under which Ukraine’s allies purchase weapons from the United States for transfer to Kyiv. Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen announced the decision as he arrived for a meeting of NATO defense ministers in Brussels on Wednesday, October 15, Yle reported.
“We think it is very important that Ukraine receive critically needed weapons from the United States,” Häkkänen said.
PURL (Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List) is a NATO-led initiative through which Allies buy US-made arms after Washington halted funding for aid to Ukraine during President Donald Trump’s administration.
Häkkänen did not specify Finland’s financial commitments under the initiative. He said long-range weapons are critical for Ukraine and could significantly influence the course of the war. He also stressed the need for Western countries to step up support for Kyiv and expand economic sanctions against Russia.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Wednesday expressed confidence that more allies will sign on. “I have every reason to assume that many other countries will join this initiative today. These are very important capabilities, in particular air defense systems and interceptors,” Rutte said.
Finding new sources of funding for Ukraine has become pressing. Military aid dipped in July and August, and the United States said it would no longer finance weapons deliveries. European allies have had to look for alternative ways to fund assistance.
By September, Kyiv had secured about $2 billion from six countries under PURL, still well short of the target. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Kyiv is in talks with allies including the Netherlands, Germany, Canada, Sweden, Denmark and Norway to secure additional funding for US-made weapons.
The European Union is also negotiating its own plan to use frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine, with the United Kingdom and Canada expected to join, according to media reports.
Ukraine additionally hopes the United States will soon agree to transfer long-range Tomahawk missiles, which would enable Kyiv to deepen strikes inside Russia. Zelensky is expected to meet with Trump on Friday, October 17, in Washington to discuss the issue.
