Kyiv: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that a new defense-support initiative with international partners has amassed $1.5 billion in pledges to supply weapons to Kyiv through NATO's Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) mechanism.

According to Anadolu Agency, Zelenskyy disclosed that the Netherlands has contributed $500 million, with a joint pledge of another $500 million from Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. Germany added an additional $500 million to the initiative. Zelenskyy described these contributions as a significant boost to Ukraine's defense capabilities.

Zelenskyy expressed gratitude to Germany, highlighting the importance of the PURL mechanism, which facilitates cooperation among NATO members for the procurement of US-made weapons for Ukraine. He emphasized that every contribution under PURL is a direct investment in Ukraine's defense and a step towards achieving peace.

The PURL mechanism was developed to streamline the delivery of urgently needed military aid to Ukraine, enabling member states to pool resources for joint arms procurement.