US Wants to Repurpose $750 Million That NATO Countries Allocated for Weapons for Ukraine

The Pentagon plans to redirect approximately $750 million from the PURL program to replenish its own stockpiles rather than Ukraine’s.

Two US officials shared this with The Washington Post.

According to them, the Pentagon has informed Congress of its intention to use funds provided by NATO countries for weapons for Ukraine.

One of the officials noted that it is currently unclear whether the European countries participating in the initiative are fully aware of exactly how these funds are being used.

It has also been reported that the Pentagon is considering redirecting air defense missiles intended for Ukraine to the Middle East.

Alyona Getmanchuk, Ukraine’s Permanent Representative to NATO, told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty that Ukraine understands the risks to the PURL program if the war in the Middle East drags on.

“Through PURL, we continue to receive about 75% of the interceptor missiles for the Patriot system and about 90% for all other air defense systems. Primarily PAC-2 missiles and especially PAC-3 missiles. The US fully fulfilled the commitments made regarding the delivery of these missiles last month. We expect to receive the corresponding number of missiles—primarily PAC-3s—based on this month’s results,” the diplomat noted.

She added that Ukraine has received no indications that weapons intended for it under the PURL program might be diverted to the Middle East.

Alyona Getmanchuk also noted that under the PURL program, Ukraine receives additional important weapons that help hold the front line and conduct counterattacks.

“We actually receive some of them exclusively through PURL, so new contributions from European partners, as well as NATO partners, remain very important and urgent. At present, there is no reason to suggest that contributions cannot be made,” she emphasized.

The PURL program is an initiative of the US Department of Defense to finance the procurement and transfer of weapons to Ukraine.

It allows for the rapid use of budget funds to support Ukraine while simultaneously stimulating weapons production in the US.