Germany to Provide €150 Million in Weapons to Ukraine via PURL Initiative
Germany will contribute €150 million to a weapons package for Ukraine, utilizing teh Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) initiative, announced Defense Minister boris Pistorius on Friday.This funding will facilitate the purchase of US-made weapons, which will then be transferred to Ukraine as part of a broader effort to bolster its defence against RussiaS ongoing invasion.
The PURL initiative, launched in july by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and US President Donald Trump, aims to increase European obligation for Ukraine’s security needs. It involves 17, primarily European, allies procuring US weaponry for delivery to Ukraine, ensuring a consistent supply of both lethal and non-lethal aid, including crucial air defence systems.
This move comes as data from the Kiel Institute indicates a 43% decrease in Western military aid to Ukraine during July and August compared to the first half of the year. PURL is intended to address this decline and uphold commitments from Europe and Canada to shoulder a significant portion of Ukraine’s security burden.
Alongside this immediate funding, the German parliament has tentatively approved a draft 2026 budget allocating €11.5 billion in support for Ukraine – a €3 billion increase from the previous year. A final vote on the budget is scheduled later this month.
The weapons being purchased through the US include the Patriot air defence system and associated missiles. When questioned, Pistorius refrained from commenting on the potential delivery of Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine.
Pistorius emphasized the urgency of continued support,noting Ukraine is entering its fourth winter facing relentless attacks,particularly on its energy grid. He stated Germany remains committed to leading the effort in supporting Kyiv, assuring Ukraine it “can continue to rely on us,” and will continue investing in the Ukrainian defence industry.
During a meeting with counterparts from Poland, Italy, France, and the UK – alongside EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and Ukrainian Defence Minister Denys Shmyhal (via video link) – discussions also focused on countering Russian hybrid warfare tactics, including recent airspace violations in NATO and EU countries.Pistorius highlighted russia’s attempts to “unsettle and frighten our societies” through incidents like drone overflights that have led to airport evacuations.
he advocated for a coordinated European approach to drone defence, proposing a joint procurement of cost-effective systems to be presented at the next Group of Five meeting in Warsaw early next year. While a direct link to Russia hasn’t been definitively established, Pistorius suggested it is indeed logical to consider who would benefit from such disruptions.
The UK confirmed it will continue to provide support, with a team of drone experts remaining in Belgium and artillery personnel deploying to Finland for drone defence operations.
