Ukraine to get first US missiles in new supply system
Yuliia Dysa, Mike Stone and Jonathan Landay |
Ukraine will receive missiles for advanced air defence systems and rocket launchers in the first batch of weapons being sent under a new funding program agreed by the US and Ukraine’s European allies, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy says.
Ukraine has so far secured more than $US2 billion ($A3 billion) in financing for US-produced weapons via a NATO-led mechanism called the Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL), according to Zelenskiy.
He said he expected the total committed funds to reach $US3.5 billion ($A5.3 billion) in October.
NATO allies hope to provide $US10 billion ($A15 billion) in arms for Ukraine.
The first two batches, worth $US500 million ($A750 million) each, will “definitely include missiles for Patriot and HIMARS”, Zelenskiy said, referring to Patriot air defence systems and HIMARS rocket launchers.
The Ukrainian president was speaking at a joint press conference with European Parliament President Roberta Metsola in Kyiv on Wednesday local time.
HIMARS are ground-launched, rocket-propelled artillery that have been crucial to Ukraine’s fight with Russia.
The first batches of equipment funding through PURL were already on their way, NATO’s senior representative in Ukraine told Reuters.
“Four packages under the Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List have already been funded and equipment is already flowing,” Patrick Turner said.
US President Donald Trump has long been critical of the billions of dollars the United States has spent on military aid for Ukraine. The PURL initiative offers a way for Europe to pay for the weapons and the US to send them.
Reuters reported on Tuesday that US Undersecretary of Defence for Policy Elbridge Colby had approved as many as two $US500 million ($A750 million) shipments under the new mechanism.
Additional packages, each worth about $US500 million ($A750 million), are working their way through the approval system, sources said.
Until now, the Trump administration has only sold weapons to Ukraine or shipped donations that had been authorised by former president Joe Biden, who was a staunch supporter of Kyiv.
Ukraine is heavily dependent on Western long-range air defence systems to shoot down Russian missiles.
Kyiv regularly renews calls for additional supplies after Russian strikes resulting in a high civilian death toll.
Ukraine is also bracing ahead of the winter, as officials believe Russia will accelerate strikes on the shattered energy system, including gas infrastructure.
Reuters
