Ukraine To Receive Initial Weapons Supply Under The New US And European Systems

Illustration of HIMARS United States to transport aircraft. (Wikimedia Commons/US Marine Corps/Master Sigt. Sarah Nadeau)

JAKARTA - Ukraine will receive missiles for Patriot air defense systems and HIMARS rocket launchers in the first batch of weapons delivered based on a new funding program approved by the United States and European allies of Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Wednesday.

Ukraine has so far secured more than $2 billion in financing for US weapons production through a NATO-led mechanism called the Ukraine Priority Requirement List (PURL), according to President Zelensky.

He said it was estimated that the total committed funds would reach 3.5 billion US dollars by October. Meanwhile, NATO allies hope to provide $10 billion worth of weapons to Ukraine.

The first two waves, worth $500 million each, "would definitely include missiles for Patriots and HIMARS," President Zelensky told a joint news conference with European Parliament President Roberta Metsola in Kyiv on Wednesday.

Reuters first reported approval of the United States Administration under President Donald Trump for a gun aid package for Kyiv on Tuesday.

HIMARS is a ground-based rocket-propelled artillery that is critical to Ukraine's fight against Russia.

The first batch of equipment funding through PURL is on its way, senior NATO representatives in Ukraine told Reuters.

"Four packages in Ukraine's Priority Requirement List have been funded and equipment has started to flow," Patrick Turner said.

It is known that President Trump has long criticized the billions of dollars the United States has spent on military assistance to Ukraine. The PURL initiative offers Europe a way to pay for weapons and the United States to deliver them.

Reuters reported on Tuesday that the US Deputy Secretary of Defense for Elbridge Colby's Policy had approved two shipments worth $500 million under the new mechanism.

Additional packages, worth about $500 million each, are being processed through the approval system, sources said.

To date, President Trump's administration has only sold weapons to Ukraine or sent donations that have been approved by former President Joe Biden, who is a loyal supporter of Kyiv.

Ukraine relies heavily on the Western long-range air defense system to shoot down Russian missiles. Kyiv regularly updates requests for additional supplies following Russian attacks resulting in a high number of civilian casualties.