British News Agency

Under the new financial arrangement, European allies purchase US-made weapons, which are then transferred to Ukraine.

According to Germany’s Kiel Institute, which tracks defence and financial aid to Kyiv, new data show Western military assistance to Ukraine fell by 43% in July and August compared with the first half of the year.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte told reporters: “We know what Ukraine needs to stay strong in the fight, and some of that only the United States can provide — for example, interceptors for the Patriot systems.”

Before Wednesday’s meeting, only six countries (the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Canada and Germany) were part of PURL; however, under pressure from the NATO Secretary General and the US, ten more joined.

At the same meeting, NATO allies also agreed to significantly bolster the alliance’s deterrence capabilities to respond more effectively to the recent increase in drone attacks and to Russian jets violating airspace over several NATO countries.

Defence ministers from the 32-nation alliance discussed counter-drone measures following airspace violations in Poland, Estonia, Romania and Denmark.