HELSINKI – Finland will not participate in the NATO-led Priority Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) initiative, which facilitates the transfer or purchase of US weapons for Ukraine, Finnish Defense Minister Antti Hakkanen confirmed Tuesday.
Speaking to national broadcaster YLE, Hakkanen explained that Finland is directing its resources toward its own defense industry to assist Ukraine. “We have committed our resources to the domestic industrial program, in which we order products for Ukraine from our companies all over Finland,” he said.
While praising the initiative and reiterating Finland’s continued strong support for Ukraine, Hakkanen emphasized the need to strengthen Finland’s national defense industry and capabilities. Meanwhile, other European countries have joined the PURL initiative. The Netherlands announced a $500 million package of artillery and ammunition, while Denmark, Norway, and Sweden unveiled a joint military aid package of the same amount under the PURL mechanism.
The initiative, funded by European Allies and Canada, will provide Ukraine with regular $500 million packages of equipment and munitions identified as operational priorities. NATO has noted that the US can supply these capabilities in larger quantities and at greater speed than European countries acting alone.
