Denmark, Norway and Sweden have promised to collectively spend $486 million on a NATO-led initiative to send U.S.-manufactured weapons to Ukraine, the Norwegian government announced Tuesday.
The project takes advantage of the new Prioritized Ukraine Requirement List NATO mechanism, created last month in an agreement with President Trump. Under the mechanism, NATO and Canada will fund regular packages worth around $500 million, containing essential equipment and munitions for Ukraine’s defense.
The exact details of the package will not be made public for security reasons. However, the Norwegian government said that the package will include necessary support for Ukraine’s air defenses, ammunition and other essential equipment. The package is expected to arrive at some point in September.
Ukrainian military leaders will likely see NATO contributions to its air defenses as the most valuable parts of the package as Kyiv deals with near-daily drone and missile attacks from Russia. According to United Nations estimates, Russian missile and artillery attacks beyond the front line have resulted in over 12,000 civilian deaths.
Russia has also intensified its ground offensive over the past month. The Russian army is currently engaged in offensive operations around the city of Pokrovsk, reportedly a major logistics hub on the front. The front line itself stretches around 620 miles across Ukraine’s eastern border.
Sweden is the largest contributor to the package, spending $275 million and sending vital equipment like Patriot missile defense systems. Still, Denmark and Norway have committed substantial funds to support the package, spending $106 million and $159 million, respectively.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said Tuesday that the entire alliance is grateful for the speedy contributions of the Nordic nations, adding that it will go a long way towards providing Ukraine with a substantial defense.
“Since the earliest days of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Denmark, Norway and Sweden have been steadfast in their support for Ukraine. I commend these Allies for their quick efforts to get this initiative off the ground. This latest round of funding will deliver life-saving equipment and critical supplies to the front-line, strengthening Ukraine’s hand and helping them deter aggression as they pursue lasting peace,” Mr. Rutte said in a statement.
The Nordic package is the second of its kind announced this week, after the Netherlands promised to fully fund the first Ukraine defense package under the new mechanism on Tuesday. The Dutch government singled out U.S.-made air defense systems as crucial for Ukraine’s ability to defend itself.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy praised the Netherlands’ efforts to provide defensive equipment to his country, adding that the security of Ukraine is connected to the security of all European countries.
“Ukraine, and thus the whole of Europe, will be better protected from Russian terror,” Mr. Zelenskyy said Tuesday in a statement.
The massive defense packages from the Nordic nations and the Netherlands follow other aid delivery promises from Germany last week. The German government announced on Friday that it would deliver two additional Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine in exchange for next-generation Patriot systems from the U.S. Germany had already committed to sending five Patriot systems to Ukraine.
The steady supply of U.S.-made equipment to Ukraine comes as Washington continues to urge European leaders to provide for their own defense. Mr. Trump successfully pressured NATO leaders to increase the proportion of member state GDP spent on defense and the Prioritized Ukraine Requirement List allows for U.S. weapons to be delivered by European allies.
• This article is based in part on wire service reports.
• Vaughn Cockayne can be reached at vcockayne@washingtontimes.com.