The Netherlands on Monday said it would contribute 500 million euros (US$577 million) to purchase US military equipment for Ukraine, becoming the first NATO country to contribute to a new mechanism to supply Kyiv with weapons.
US President Donald Trump last month said that the US would provide weapons to Ukraine, paid for by European allies, but he did not provide details on how it would work.
“As the first NATO ally, the Netherlands will deliver a 500 million [euros] package of US weapon systems [including Patriot parts and missiles],” Dutch Minister of Defense Ruben Brekelmans said in a social media post.
Photo: Reuters
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, a former Dutch prime minister, welcomed the announcement and said he has encouraged other alliance members to participate in the new mechanism, called the NATO Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List initiative.
“This is about getting Ukraine the equipment it urgently needs now to defend itself against Russian aggression,” Rutte said in a statement. “I have written to all NATO Allies, urging them to contribute towards this burden sharing initiative, and I expect further significant announcements from other Allies soon.”
US Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker on Monday said that he expected many more nations to announce over the coming weeks that they would participate.
“We’re moving as fast as possible,” Whitaker said in an interview at NATO headquarters in Brussels.
Asked about a timeline for getting US deliveries to Ukraine under the new mechanism, he said: “I think we’ll see it moving very quickly, certainly in the coming weeks, but some even sooner than that.”
NATO said it would coordinate the new initiative, which is funded by European members of the alliance and Canada, and would be divided into packages of approximately US$500 million.
“Working closely with Ukraine and the United States, the Supreme Allied Commander Europe Alexus Grynkewich will validate packages that correspond to Ukraine’s needs, such as air defense, ammunition and other critical equipment for rapid delivery from US stockpiles,” NATO said in a statement.
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