Ukraine’s Zelenskyy thanks NATO allies for defense aid

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has issued a renewed call for advanced air defense systems from NATO partners, emphasizing the critical need to safeguard the country's energy infrastructure before winter. The appeal came during a meeting with representatives from the US, UK, Germany, France, Italy, Poland, Canada, and the Netherlands. Zelenskyy specifically highlighted the importance of the Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL), a US-NATO program that funds the purchase of American-made weapons for Ukraine.

Gratitude for Key Allies and the PURL Initiative

In a statement on Telegram, the Ukrainian leader expressed thanks for the military aid provided thus far. "We are grateful to Germany for the Patriot systems, to the United States for the opportunity to purchase weapons and air defense systems through the PURL initiative, to the United Kingdom and France for the missiles," he stated. He also acknowledged contributions from Canada and the Netherlands, noting that such support "truly saves lives of our people." The PURL initiative was established by NATO in July to streamline and coordinate military assistance from European and Canadian members.

Focus on Winter Preparedness and Sustained Pressure

The discussions in Brussels centered on the urgent priorities for the coming months. Protecting energy facilities from aerial bombardment was a key topic, alongside the need for more missiles and enhanced tactical aviation capabilities. Zelenskyy further underscored the necessity of maintaining robust international sanctions on Russia and exploiting other "key pressure points" to force Moscow to seek an end to the conflict. This diplomatic push occurs amidst ongoing concerns about the sustainability of Western military aid to Ukraine.