Ukraine fears that due to the war in the Middle East, there will be a shortage of additional air defense assets within the framework of PURL, but so far Kyiv has not received signals that weapons for Ukraine may be sent to the Middle East.
This was told to Suspilny by the Ambassador of Ukraine to NATO, Alena Getmanchuk, commenting on an article in The Washington Post, which states that the Pentagon is considering the possibility of redirecting military aid intended for Ukraine to the Middle East.
The diplomat noted that the effectiveness and sustainability of the NATO PURL program are based on two elements – the availability of the necessary weapons in the United States and the availability of funding from European countries, Canada, and NATO partners.
“If there are delays or shortages in even one of these elements, the program starts to falter,” she said.
According to Hetmanchuk, until recently, the biggest challenge for Ukraine was precisely the second element of the program – timely, appropriate, and equal funding from the point of view of the contribution of each country.
“But in the context of the war in Iran – and this, in my opinion, is quite natural, given the volume of use of interceptor missiles for Patriot systems in the Middle East – there are indeed concerns about the gradual shortage of some of the most sought-after weapons for Ukraine within the framework of PURL – additional air defense means,” the ambassador said.
She noted that through PURL, Ukraine continues to receive about 75% of interceptor missiles for Patriot and about 90% for all other air defense systems.
“Primarily PAC2 and especially PAC3 missiles. The commitments made regarding the supply of these missiles last month were fully fulfilled by the US. We expect that we will receive the appropriate number of missiles — primarily PAC 3 — by the end of this month,” said Getmanchuk.
At the same time, the diplomat emphasized that Kyiv did not receive signals that weapons for Ukraine could be sent to the Middle East.
“At the same time, we have not received any signals from NATO or the US that weapons intended for Ukraine under the PURL program may be directed to the Middle East. As well as signals that as a result of the war in Iran, there are changes in the availability of the necessary weapons for Ukraine under the PURL program,” she said.
Getmanchuk added that in addition to air defense, Ukraine receives some other important weapons through PURL that help it hold the front line and carry out successful counterattacks. Moreover, according to her, some of them come exclusively through PURL, so new contributions from European partners, as well as NATO partners, continue to be very important and urgent.
“There is currently no reason to say that contributions cannot be made because Washington is unable to fulfill its obligations under the PURL program,” the diplomat said.
The Washington Post previously reported that the Pentagon is considering redirecting military aid intended for Ukraine to the Middle East as the war in Iran depletes the US military's stockpiles of some of its most critical munitions.
According to the publication's sources, the weapons that could be redirected include air defense interceptor missiles ordered under the PURL program.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte noted that American weapons under PURL, including air defense systems and missiles, will continue to be supplied to Ukraine, despite the war in the Middle East.
What is known about the PURL program?
On July 14, 2025, the US and NATO signed the Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List agreement, which provides for the purchase of American weapons by Ukraine at the expense of European countries. According to the Secretary General of the military-political bloc, Mark Rutte, within the framework of the agreement, Kyiv may receive a large number of air defense systems, missiles and ammunition.
It is known that Denmark has allocated approximately 580 million Danish kroner for this program through the Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) initiative, Sweden – 275 million dollars, and Norway – about 135 million dollars.
The Netherlands previously financed the first aid package under PURL for €500 million. Germany also joined the program.
On September 18, a NATO representative told Suspilny that the first military equipment provided for by the agreement between the US and NATO within the framework of the PURL program had arrived in Ukraine. New supplies are expected in the near future.
After meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on September 24, Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that two months after the creation of the PURL program, its content has already reached $2.1 billion. Rutte emphasized that it is important to increase the number of contributions and countries participating in the initiative.
On December 3, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced that Alliance countries and partners have already pledged more than $4 billion to assist Ukraine through the PURL mechanism.