German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius announced Friday that Germany will contribute €150 million ($174.3 million) to the NATO-led Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) mechanism, a framework enabling European allies to purchase US-made weapons for Ukraine without relying completely on Washington to foot the bill. The move signals Berlin’s determination to maintain weapons flow to Kyiv as Russia intensifies attacks ahead of winter.
Pistorius revealed the new pledge at a Berlin press conference following a Group of Five (E5) meeting with defense ministers from France, Italy, Poland, the UK, and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas. “Yesterday I had contact with Mark Rutte, NATO Secretary General, and we agreed to participate with at least 150 million euros,” Pistorius stated. “And here we continue to move forward.”
The PURL initiative, launched in July 2025 by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and US President Donald Trump, addresses White House demands that Europe shoulder more responsibility for Ukraine’s security. The mechanism allows 17 mostly European NATO allies to collectively finance American weapons systems—including Patriot missiles, air defense interceptors, and other advanced platforms—that are then transferred to Ukraine. Germany previously contributed $500 million to PURL in August, while eight Nordic and Baltic allies announced another $500 million package earlier this week.
Pistorius described the program as essential for expediting deliveries of systems only America produces. “A prominent example are the Patriot systems and, above all, the aircraft carriers for them,” he explained, referring to missile batteries critical for defending Ukrainian cities against Russian aerial bombardment.
The announcement comes as Germany prepares to massively scale up aid. The Bundestag’s budget committee approved €11.5 billion ($13.4 billion) in Ukrainian support for 2026—€3 billion more than this year—making it Berlin’s highest support level since Russia’s 2022 invasion. Germany’s total military assistance since 2022 now stands at roughly €40 billion, second only to the United States.
Pistorius used the E5 meeting to denounce Russia’s intensified winter campaign. “Putin aims to make the winter as unbearable for Ukraine as possible,” he said, referencing overnight strikes on Kyiv that killed six people on November 14. The German defense chief emphasized that Europe must not ease efforts despite battlefield challenges.
The minister also addressed hybrid warfare threats plaguing European airspace. Unidentified drone incursions have shut down Belgian airports for a week and triggered evacuations across NATO territory. While no definitive proof links the drones to Russia, Pistorius remarked: “You don’t have to be Sherlock Holmes to work out who would benefit from the airspace violations.”
Pistorius confirmed Germany deployed anti-drone troops to Belgium on short notice and is working with allies on cost-effective drone defense solutions to be presented at the next E5 meeting in Warsaw early next year. The defense chief stressed that “we must also act as a team” against threats designed to unsettle European societies.
The 150 million euro PURL contribution follows recent German pledges to invest directly in Ukraine’s defense industry, with Pistorius noting Ukrainian facilities are operating at up to 35% under capacity due to funding gaps. Berlin is trying to close these shortfalls as part of long-term strategic cooperation.
The move positions Germany as Europe’s leading defense power and Pistorius as the continent’s most outspoken advocate for Ukrainian support.
