NATO Secretary General Calls For Allies To Follow In Dutch Footsteps To Buy Weapons For Ukraine

JAKARTA - Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Mark Rutte praised the Dutch's decision to buy US-made weapons worth 500 million euros for Ukraine.

Not only that, the Secretary General of Rutte also called on other NATO member countries to immediately follow in the footsteps of the Dutch.

"NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte welcomes the first package of US military equipment for Ukraine coordinated under the initiative of the new NATO Priority Ukrainian Requirement List (PURL)," NATO press statement said Monday, quoted from TASS August 5.

"The Secretary General and the Dutch Government confirmed that the Netherlands was fully funding the first package," he continued.

"I commend the Dutch for their leadership and make this initiative a concrete support in the field," said Rutte's statement.

The press service noted that the Dutch decision reminded the July 14 agreement between NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte and US President Donald Trump.

"The new initiative is funded by the European Allies and Canada, and will consist of regular packages, each worth about $500 million, containing equipment and ammunition identified by Ukraine as operational priorities," the statement said.

Earlier, Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans announced his country would be NATO's first ally to "send a package of US weapons systems worth 500 million euros (including Patriot parts and missiles) to Ukraine.

"I have written letters to all NATO Allies, urging them to contribute to this burden-sharing initiative, and I expect further announcements from other Allies soon," NATO Secretary General said.

Separately, The Hague's decision was also welcomed by the United States Ambassador to NATO Matthew Total.