Kyiv: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday expressed gratitude towards Croatia and Romania for their participation in NATO's Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) initiative, aimed at supporting Kyiv's defense needs.
According to Anadolu Agency, Zelenskyy emphasized the significance of this initiative, highlighting its role in facilitating the acquisition of American weapons to strengthen Ukraine's defense capabilities, including missiles for Patriot systems. He made these remarks in a statement on the US social media platform X.
Zelenskyy noted that since its inception in August, the initiative has seen the participation of 24 countries, contributing a combined total of $4.3 billion. This includes a substantial contribution of nearly $1.5 billion in December alone. The contributions have enabled the formation of eight support packages, with efforts underway to secure funding for two additional packages.
The Croatian government recently approved a contribution of £15 million ($17.6 million) to the PURL initiative, while Romania committed £50 million ($58.7 million) on Tuesday. The PURL initiative offers a framework for allied and partner nations to finance the procurement of US weapons, equipment, and ammunition specifically for Ukraine.