Spain and Finland join NATO-led arms funding program for Ukraine

Spain and Finland have officially joined the NATO-coordinated PURL programme (Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List), designed to fund the purchase of American weapons for Ukraine after the United States halted direct military aid earlier this year.

The announcement was made by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a press conference following the European Council summit in Brussels on 23 October. “Thank you to everyone who joined PURL. We are grateful today to Finland and Spain for joining this programme,” Zelenskyy said, highlighting the importance of air defence systems and the EU’s financial commitment to Ukraine for 2026–2027.

Finland’s €100 million pledge

Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo confirmed that Helsinki will allocate €100 million to purchase American weapons for Ukraine through the PURL framework. The decision, reported by Helsingin Sanomat, was taken as part of a joint support package being developed by the Baltic and Nordic countries.

According to Orpo, the funding will come from new debt rather than spending cuts elsewhere. “This decision will be made even if it increases the debt burden by this amount. The situation in Ukraine is extremely serious. We must be involved and cannot remain on the sidelines when all the Nordic and Baltic countries are participating,” the Finnish leader said.

Spain joins amid talks with Kyiv

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez also announced Madrid’s decision to join PURL, telling El País that he had informed President Zelenskyy personally. Spanish Defence Minister Margarita Robles held talks with her Ukrainian counterpart Denys Shmyhal, who emphasised the urgency of supplying weapons before winter.

According to El País, Spain’s contribution has not yet been finalised, but experts estimate it could amount to around €200 million. The government’s move also follows growing pressure from Washington for Madrid to increase its defence spending.

Spanish officials describe participation in PURL as both a strategic and solidarity-driven step. “Spain will always be part of the solution… Ukraine is the priority,” Robles said earlier this year.

From Trump’s halt to NATO coordination

The PURL programme was launched in August 2025 after U.S. President Donald Trump suspended free arms deliveries to Ukraine, calling on European allies to share the financial burden. In response, several NATO members – including Germany, the Netherlands, Canada, Denmark, Norway and Sweden, voluntarily financed the purchase of U.S.-made weapons such as Patriot and HIMARS missiles.

Denmark has already contributed 580 million Danish kroner (€77.65 million), Sweden $275 million (€236 million), and Norway around $135 million (€116 million). The Netherlands funded the first aid package worth €500 million, while Germany later joined the scheme.

A NATO representative confirmed on 18 September that the first equipment financed under PURL had arrived in Ukraine, with additional deliveries expected soon. After meeting NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte on 24 September, Zelenskyy said that within two months of its creation, PURL’s total volume had reached $2.1 billion (€1.81 billion).

Rutte has described the programme as essential for meeting Ukraine’s needs. “There are some things Ukraine requires that only the United States can provide,” he noted, urging more European countries to contribute.

Strategic implications

For Madrid, joining PURL not only strengthens Europe’s united front but may also ease tensions with Washington. Spain already supplies Ukraine with domestically produced military equipment worth €1 billion annually under an agreement signed in May 2024.

The PURL initiative foresees the purchase of US weapons with European funds – an arrangement that has raised some concern, particularly in France. However, military sources quoted by El País defend the approach: “We cannot give the Ukrainians what we need, but what they need.”

With Finland and Spain now part of the initiative, Ukraine’s Western partners aim to bring the total PURL budget to $3.5 billion (€3.01 billion) by the end of October. As Russian attacks on energy infrastructure intensify ahead of winter, Zelenskyy’s government counts on this expanding coalition to ensure continued supplies of vital air defence systems and ammunition.

Caption: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy holds a press conference following the Euro Summit in Brussels, Belgium, 23 October 2025. European Union leaders convened in Brussels to discuss the situation in Ukraine, European defence, developments in the Middle East, competitiveness, housing, and migration. EPA/OLIVIER HOSLET

Updated: October 24, 2025 - 05:49