BELFAST — Denmark, Norway and Sweden have agreed to jointly finance a $500 million US weapons package, including Patriot air defense system munitions and anti-tank systems “to meet Ukraine’s most urgent needs.”
In a statement today, the Swedish government said that it will specifically commit $275 million and that the wider Nordic pledge is in line with US President Donald Trump’s decision last month to supply Kyiv with “defence material, in the form of several support packages.” NATO is coordinating the American military aid push, with funding provided by other allied nations.
“Ukraine urgently needs the support of Allies and partners to defend itself against Russia’s aggression,” added Sweden’s Minister of Defence Pål Jonson, as part of Stockholm’s statement.
Ukraine Minister of Defence Denys Shmyhal, said in a post on X that he had “thanked Sweden” during a phone conversation with Jonson for joining the Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL), the formal title of the new joint initiative between the US, NATO allies and Ukraine to fund DoD arms.
“This is a very strong initiative that significantly boosts our ability to protect lives,” added Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on social media. “Yesterday, there was a €500 million contribution from the Netherlands; today, another half-billion dollars in support. This will be felt.”
In a related post, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte welcomed Denmark, Norway and Sweden’s “fast action” to fund the new package, judging that it will “deliver life-saving equipment & critical supplies to the front-line, strengthening Ukraine’s hand & [help] them deter aggression as they pursue lasting peace.”
The bankrolling of US weapons for Ukraine by European nations comes in the wake of Trump putting pressure on the continent to do more for its own security and, at the same time, his growing frustration toward Russian President Vladimir Putin at not ending the war in Ukraine, marked more recently by an order to reposition two US submarines closer to Moscow.
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Analysts with whom Breaking Defense spoke in January generally agreed that the US could force European nations to bankroll military aid to Kyiv, as unconventional as such a plan might have been at that time.
“It might not normally be realistic, but if the alternative is a cutoff of American support, then it becomes far more of a possibility,” said Jacob Parakilas, research leader for defense strategy, policy and capabilities at RAND Europe.
“As a function of geography and history, European nations — especially those on Europe’s eastern flank — are more likely to see Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in more existential terms than the US. So while the idea of sending money to a much richer ally in order to buy weapons for a third party might not pass the laugh test under normal circumstances, if the alternative is ceding victory to Russia, it might well become politically feasible (depending of course on exact terms and various other details).”
Zelenskyy also shared on X today that he had a “productive conversation” with Trump, focused on reaching an end to the war and that a draft bilateral agreement between the US and Ukraine on drone production has “already been prepared” from Kyiv’s side. “[W]e are ready to discuss it and conclude it,” said the Ukrainian leader.
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Author: Tim Martin
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