Finland will begin buying weapons from the United States to donate to Ukraine, joining a growing number of European NATO members in a coordinated effort to support Kyiv’s military needs.
Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen confirmed the decision during NATO’s defence ministerial meeting in Brussels. Speaking to reporters, he said Finland had decided to participate in the Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List, or PURL, which pools European funds to acquire US-made arms for Ukraine.
“This week, we will deliver a new support package to Ukraine.
We’ve also decided to join the PURL initiative because we assess that it is crucial for Ukraine to receive the critical US weapons it requires,” Häkkänen said.
Under the programme, Ukraine identifies priority weapon systems, such as air defences and long-range missiles. NATO then coordinates with member states to purchase them directly from US stockpiles. Each package is valued at approximately $500 million, and deliveries are scheduled on a recurring basis.
So far, European NATO members have committed about €2 billion through the initiative. Germany, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and the Baltic states have already made pledges or begun procurement. Estonia announced a €10 million contribution earlier this month. The total monthly procurement target is approximately €1 billion.
Häkkänen declined to specify the size of Finland’s financial contribution but said the decision was made at a strategic level. He acknowledged that Finland’s participation came later than other Nordic countries but argued that the support was timely and necessary.
President Alexander Stubb also confirmed Finland’s involvement, stating that the country “wants to be among its peers” in contributing to Ukraine’s defence. He did not disclose any figures but clarified that Finland’s contribution would be more modest compared to the “hundreds of millions” pledged by Sweden, Norway, and Denmark.
“We are part of an alliance where our objective is to support Ukraine by all possible means,” Stubb said during a visit to Mikkeli.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte welcomed Finland’s announcement and said that over half of NATO members are now participating in the PURL mechanism. He emphasised that some of the weapons requested by Ukraine are not available in Europe, making the US supplies essential.
“These are vital systems, especially air defence and interceptors. With them, Ukraine can protect its civilians and critical infrastructure from continued Russian attacks,” Rutte said.
The most sought-after system is the Patriot surface-to-air missile, capable of intercepting ballistic threats. NATO sources have also mentioned potential interest in long-range missiles such as Tomahawk cruise missiles. President Donald Trump has signalled he may allow such systems to be transferred if Russia escalates its assault.
Rutte added that arms procurement through the PURL programme counts towards NATO’s defence spending targets. Each euro spent by member states on Ukrainian aid will help meet the alliance’s 3.5 percent defence spending guideline.
Häkkänen echoed this, calling the US request for European funding “more or less justified” given that the war is being fought on European soil. “We all need to find the funds. This is a decisive moment,” he said.
The announcement follows months of declining military aid to Ukraine. A report by the Kiel Institute in Germany found that military support dropped by 43 percent during the summer, with aid from European countries falling nearly 60 percent. The launch of the PURL mechanism in August was seen as a response to this downward trend.
The Finnish government had earlier prioritised purchases from domestic industry but now sees the PURL mechanism as an urgent step. Häkkänen said Finland would continue supporting Ukraine through other means, including direct aid and purchases from European defence companies.
The Brussels summit also addressed the broader security situation in Eastern Europe. Ministers discussed enhancing missile and drone defences, with special focus on what NATO calls the “eastern flank.” Finland has advocated for a “drone wall” along the EU’s eastern borders, originally proposed by Baltic states and now under wider consideration.
Finland has argued that the eastern border faces the most direct threat from Russia and should be prioritised in EU funding allocations. “We will communicate that Russia’s threat is greatest on the eastern flank. Others must show solidarity,” Häkkänen said.
Separately, NATO and the EU are working together to build a continent-wide drone detection and countermeasure network. Germany has announced plans to invest €10 billion in drone technologies, and France is expected to contribute to a new satellite-based warning system dubbed “Odin’s Eye.”
Meanwhile, in Ukraine, Russian forces have intensified attacks across several fronts. Recent strikes hit critical energy infrastructure in Kharkiv and Kyiv, leading to widespread power outages. The Ukrainian military has ordered evacuations near Kupiansk due to worsening security conditions. President Volodymyr Zelenskyi is expected to raise the need for additional air defence support during a visit to Washington later this week.
He will meet Donald Trump at the White House on Friday. The leaders are expected to discuss military assistance and possible pressure on Russia to engage in negotiations. Trump has previously said that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan could play a key role in ending the conflict.
HT