USA and NATO Working on New Mechanism for Supplying Weapons to Ukraine
The United States and NATO are discussing a new mechanism for providing military assistance to Ukraine, which would involve European allies paying for American weapons.
The details of this plan have become known to Reuters from three informed sources, according to European Pravda.
According to Reuters, NATO countries, the United States and Ukraine are developing a new approach that should provide Kyiv with weapons from the list of Ukraine’s priority needs, known by the acronym PURL.
According to the concept, Ukraine will create request packages worth about $500 million, indicating the most needed types of weapons.
NATO allies will then coordinate with each other, under the coordination of NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, to agree on who will supply or pay for the items.
According to a European official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, NATO hopes to provide Ukraine with up to $10 billion worth of weapons through the new mechanism.
“This is just a starting point, but it is an ambitious goal that we are striving for. We are already moving in this direction. We support this ambition – we need this amount,” the source said.
The American source explained to Reuters that the proposed mechanism bypasses the lengthy US arms sales procedures, which are usually used to replenish its own stockpiles. However, NATO member states will have to pay the United States in advance for the accelerated restoration of these stocks.
The technical details of the payment, including the mechanism for transferring funds to the United States, are currently being discussed.
At the same time, the PEACE Act has already been registered in the US Congress, which provides for the creation of a special fund at the U.S. Department of the Treasury. NATO allies will be able to transfer funds to this fund to compensate for the cost of equipment transferred to Ukraine.
Earlier on Friday, it became known that Germany would transfer two Patriot systems to Ukraine in the following months – first launchers, and then the rest of the complex.
In April, NATO allies pledged more than €20 billion in military support for Ukraine.
