Berlin, August 13, 2025 — Germany has announced a $500 million allocation to purchase US-made weapons for Ukraine. The deal is carried out under the Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) mechanism, designed to minimize delays between ordering and delivery.
What’s new in this approach
PURL is a relatively new scheme in which allies pay for US weapon systems that are already prepared for shipment. This method bypasses lengthy European production cycles and enables delivery within months — or even weeks. According to NATO, Ukraine’s current priorities include medium- and long-range air defense systems, mobile radar units, and interceptor missiles.
New details and figures
- According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, joint decisions by Germany, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden have already created a pool of $1.5 billion in PURL purchases — equivalent to more than 10 modern Patriot batteries or dozens of NASAMS systems.
- Since 2022, Germany has provided Ukraine with €40 billion in military aid, making it the largest European donor. By comparison, the UK has contributed around €12 billion over the same period.
- Part of the new package will be sourced directly from US reserves, enabling the first shipments to begin as early as this autumn.
Why it matters now
In recent months, Russia has intensified mass attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. According to the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, over 200 missiles and drones were launched in July alone; many were intercepted, but some struck targets due to gaps in air defense coverage. Additional batteries are expected to close these critical “blind spots.”
Analytical perspective
Security experts note that shifting to a centralized procurement model via PURL could become a new NATO standard. This approach reduces fragmentation of aid, avoids duplication in deliveries, and sends a strong political message about long-term support for Kyiv.
For the United States, the arrangement is also beneficial — allies fund US weaponry, sustaining the American defense industry’s production lines and ensuring rapid turnover of stockpiled systems.
