In the final weeks of 2025, Ukraine is set to receive a large batch of US-supplied weapons worth about $5 billion, according to NATO Deputy Secretary General Radmila Šekerinska in an interview with Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne. The shipment, coordinated through NATO’s rapid assistance mechanism known as PURL, will focus heavily on air defense systems, ammunition, and essential spare parts.
Air defense deliveries to Ukraine seen as ‘difference between life and death’
Suspilne says Šekerinska emphasized that most air defense equipment delivered to Ukraine now comes through the PURL mechanism. She described the deliveries as urgent and life-saving, saying,
“The bulk of air defense equipment arrives in Ukraine via PURL — this is literally the difference between life and death.”
The logistical operations run continuously through hubs in Poland and Romania, enabling round-the-clock movement of military equipment. The funding for the assistance packages comes from NATO’s European allies and Canada. Australia and New Zealand have also joined the initiative.
Ukraine still needs more air defense as NATO ramps up production
Despite the scale of deliveries through PURL, Šekerinska stressed that Ukraine still needs more air defense systems to meet ongoing battlefield demands. She noted that NATO’s defense industry is expanding its production to address the shortfall.
