Zelenskyy to Rutte: More countries must join US missile procurement program for Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in London on 17 March, focusing on air defense and the expansion of a US arms procurement initiative, Zelenskyy wrote on X.

Air defense topped the agenda. "We are very grateful for the PURL program, which allows us to purchase Patriot missiles from America," Zelenskyy said. "We will work on bringing new countries into this initiative and increasing contributions."

The two leaders also discussed Iran and its implications for Ukraine and Europe. Zelenskyy said: "Russia must not receive any benefit from this, or any opportunity to drag out its war against Ukraine."

The meeting came against the backdrop of growing concern over competition for Western air defense assets. The EU's top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, recently warned that weapons and defense capabilities needed in Ukraine — particularly air defense systems — are currently being redirected to the Middle East. The EU noted that roughly 800 US-made interceptor missiles were used in the Middle East over just three days, exceeding the number Ukraine fired during the entire winter period, according to the bloc.

Zelenskyy said the situation in the Middle East has not yet affected US arms deliveries to Ukraine under the PURL initiative, particularly missiles for air defense systems.