The Nordic and Baltic nations have announced a joint commitment of $500 million to support NATO’s Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL), an initiative designed to accelerate the delivery of essential US-made military equipment to Ukraine. This coordinated effort underscores the region’s unified stance on strengthening Kyiv’s defense capabilities as the war against Russia continues. During a meeting in Helsinki, defense ministers from Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, and Sweden, along with Iceland’s foreign minister, discussed regional security concerns and reaffirmed their long-term support for Ukraine. Following the meeting, officials stressed that Ukraine’s security is vital not only for its own survival but also for the stability of Europe as a whole. The PURL mechanism was created in July after NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg met with US President Donald Trump to find a more effective way to streamline equipment procurement. Under PURL, Ukraine submits a prioritized list of equipment needs, which is then reviewed and validated by NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe. Once validated, NATO coordinates the acquisition and delivery of the required systems, including through the Security Assistance and Training to Ukraine program. Several nations have already contributed to the initiative. Denmark, Norway, and Sweden previously pledged a combined $585 million to support the acquisition of US-made air defense and artillery systems for Ukraine. The Netherlands funded PURL’s inaugural package, worth $577 million, which included critical Patriot missile components. Despite these high-level commitments, overall military support to Ukraine dropped significantly—down 43 percent in July and August compared to the first half of the year—reflecting growing global competition for defense resources. The newly announced $500-million pledge from Nordic and Baltic countries aims to reverse this trend and ensure Ukraine continues receiving the capabilities needed to defend itself.
