Italy Signals Readiness to Join PURL Weapons Program for Ukraine, Bloomberg Reports

Overview

• Bloomberg, citing unnamed sources, reports Defense Minister Guido Crosetto conveyed Italy’s willingness to participate during last week’s NATO defense ministers’ meeting.
• Those sources say Italy had opposed joining but reconsidered over concerns about being sidelined if the program is dominated by other allies.
• Under PURL, Ukraine defines monthly priority needs that are jointly approved with NATO and the United States, and the United States delivers items once allied financing is secured.
• Official Ukrainian material lists early commitments exceeding $2 billion, including €500 million from the Netherlands, $495 million from Denmark, Norway and Sweden, and $500 million each signaled or committed by Germany and Canada, with smaller Baltic contributions.
• Poland says it has not joined, the United Kingdom is studying participation, and Bloomberg—via Ukrinform—quoted NATO chief Mark Rutte as saying more than half of the 32 allies have agreed to pledge funds.