NATO Allies Step Up Ukraine Aid Amid Decline/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Finland and Sweden pledged to purchase more U.S. weapons for Ukraine as Western military aid sharply declines. The move supports the Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL), aiming to sustain Kyiv’s defense. NATO allies now face pressure to increase contributions amid growing concerns over regional security.
NATO Weapon Support for Ukraine: Quick Looks
- Finland and Sweden join U.S. weapons program (PURL) for Ukraine
- Military aid to Ukraine dropped 43% during July and August 2025
- European arsenals nearly depleted, prompting U.S. armament purchases
- Nordic and Baltic countries discuss coordinated defense support
- Trump administration hasn’t donated arms, but considers sending Tomahawks
- NATO allies expected to buy U.S. weapons rather than donate from own stockpiles
- France, Italy, and Spain criticized for low Ukraine support
- NATO Secretary-General defends aid levels, calls them consistent with last year
- Kiel Institute reports declining foreign military contributions
- Estonia warns of waning U.S. role, calls for more international involvement
Deep Look: Finland and Sweden Expand U.S. Arms Purchases to Aid Ukraine Amid Declining Western Support
BRUSSELS — October 15, 2025
As military aid to Ukraine drops sharply, NATO’s newest members — Finland and Sweden — are stepping up by pledging to buy additional U.S. weapons to help Kyiv fend off continued Russian aggression. The announcement, made at a NATO defense ministers’ meeting in Brussels, highlights growing concern over diminishing support from some Western nations.
The two Nordic countries will join the Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL), a mechanism through which European nations and Canada purchase U.S. weapons for delivery to Ukraine. So far, around $2 billion has been committed under the initiative, with the United States holding an estimated $10–12 billion in weapons that could still be made available.
“We see it as crucial that Ukraine receives the critical U.S. weapons it needs,” said Antti Häkkänen, Finland’s defense minister. He confirmed Finland would also send its own package of military equipment.
Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson echoed the sentiment, adding that Sweden is prepared to do more. He emphasized coordination with Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, and hinted at a joint Nordic-Baltic aid shipment to help offset the decline in assistance seen over the past few months.
“The trajectory of support has been heading in the wrong direction,” Jonson told reporters. “We want to change that.”
Western Military Aid Sees Sharp Decline
Recent data from Germany’s Kiel Institute, which monitors aid flows to Ukraine, revealed that Western military support dropped by 43% in July and August compared to the first half of the year. The trend is raising alarms among front-line NATO countries, especially those bordering Russia or close to conflict zones.
Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur voiced concern about the declining U.S. contribution, stating that “the share of American support has decreased significantly this year.” This has heightened urgency for smaller NATO countries to step in and bolster Ukraine’s defenses by buying arms from the U.S., given that most European stockpiles are nearly exhausted.
U.S. Role and Trump Administration Policy
While the Trump administration has refrained from donating military hardware to Ukraine in recent months, President Trump has floated the possibility of sending Tomahawk missiles if Russia refuses to de-escalate the war. These long-range, precision-guided missiles would mark a major upgrade in Ukraine’s ability to target Russian assets deep behind enemy lines.
Still, it’s unclear who would fund the deployment of Tomahawks should they be approved. Meanwhile, the U.S. is urging allies to “buy more and do more.”
“Our expectation today is that more countries purchase even more to provide for Ukraine,” said U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, underscoring Washington’s call for shared responsibility within the alliance.
France, Italy, Spain Under Fire
Not all NATO countries are eager to participate. Critics have pointed to France, Italy, and Spain for not contributing their “fair share.” France in particular has resisted joining PURL, preferring to keep defense spending within European defense industries. French officials argue that EU funds should benefit European manufacturers, not American corporations.
Italy and France are also struggling with debt and austerity measures, making it harder to allocate funds toward large-scale foreign military support. Spain, while facing similar economic pressures, claims it compensates for financial gaps by deploying troops to NATO missions.
Despite the criticism, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte played down the concerns, saying military aid to Ukraine this year is “more or less on average with last year.” However, with the war dragging on and new Russian offensives expected this winter, many NATO leaders agree that the status quo may no longer be sufficient.
Looking Ahead: Burden Sharing and Battlefield Realities
As NATO faces renewed pressure to demonstrate unity and strength, calls for equitable burden-sharing are growing louder.
Finland’s Häkkänen was clear: “Everyone has to find the money because this is a crucial moment.”
With Ukraine relying heavily on international support to maintain its frontline defenses, and Russian forces showing no signs of withdrawal, the strategic focus is shifting from donations to coordinated purchases — primarily of American-made arms.
Whether this signals a sustainable model for long-term military assistance or simply a temporary solution remains to be seen. But for now, NATO’s newest members are stepping forward, offering not just symbolic support but real firepower.
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