December 14, 2025

Athens News

News in English from Greece

The United States announced assistance to Kyiv: Europe is again paying for American weapons


USA prepared for ‘major announcement’ of new military aid Ukrainescheduled for October 15.

International media attention was focused on the possibility of supply Tomahawk cruise missilescapable of hitting targets in depth Russia. At the same time, Washington increased pressure on the countries Southern Europeincluding Greececalling on them to increase their participation in NATO supply financing.

The American initiative again showed that arms assistance to Kyiv was turning into a global mechanism where political signals were combined with economic interests.

Waiting for the “big announcement”

The United States announced its intention to make a “significant announcement” on October 15 regarding a new batch of weapons for Ukraine. This was announced by the US Permanent Representative to NATO Matthew Whitaker in an interview given in Brussels. Information confirmed by agencies moscowtimes And interfax.

A number of analysts linked the upcoming statement with the decision to transfer missiles to Kyiv Tomahawkwhich would actually allow the Ukrainian army to strike targets on Russian territory. This step would be the most serious strengthening of Ukraine’s weapons since the beginning of the conflict.

Pressure on Southern European Allies

At the same time, Whitaker addressed the countries Southern Europe – including Greece — with a call to more actively participate in military support for Kyiv. He recalled the operation of the mechanism PURL (Program for Ukraine Resilience and Logistics), which provides for the purchase of American weapons through European funding.

“President Trump has provided Ukraine with the best weapons systems in the world. She needs them and she deserves them. The PURL program is vital to forcing Russia into dialogue. I encourage those countries that have not yet participated to do so,” Whitaker said.

How the PURL mechanism worked

According to the scheme, Ukraine submitted a list of priority requests – from ammunition and armored vehicles to air defense systems. This list was approved Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR)to ensure that stated positions meet real needs.

Then, participating countries that expressed their willingness made voluntary financial contributions for the purchase or supply of weapons produced exclusively in USA. The American side took care of all logistics, guaranteeing fast and efficient delivery of equipment.

According to NATO, Netherlands have already allocated $590 million, Germany – 500 million euros, Denmark – 90 million dollars, Sweden – $275 million, and Norway – 135 million dollars. The funds were used for the purchase of American weapons or for their direct transfer to Ukraine.

Waiting for Tomahawk

Discussion of the program Tomahawk gained strength in early October. President Donald Trump stated that he was “almost ready” to make a decision to send these missiles. On October 12, he admitted the possibility of their transfer if Russia refuses to start peace negotiations.

According to Whitaker, such a measure could “significantly change the strategic calculus.” Vladimir Putin and jeopardize the most important military installations on Russian territory. However, the diplomat clarified that the final decision on supplies depended solely on the US President.

Context and consequences

The news of the upcoming delivery comes amid growing pressure from Washington on its allies. European governments have increasingly expressed concern about the volume of aid to Ukraine and rising domestic costs. However, the United States, by controlling the PURL mechanism, effectively maintained a monopoly on supplies, while the Europeans remained their main financiers.

Thus, “big announcement” became not only a military step, but also a political test for NATO, in which the question of solidarity was increasingly intertwined with the question of dependence.

There is a nuance

The US can supply Ukraine only a few Tomahawks, which will not have much impact on the war, writes the Financial Times. Former Pentagon official Mark Cancian, now working at a think tank, estimates that the United States has about 4150 Tomahawks.

“However, the United States will likely be able to supply Ukraine with only a few units. This is due to the fact that, according to military experts, of the 200 Tomahawk missiles purchased by the Pentagon since 2022, more than 120 have already been launched. The Department of Defense has requested funding for only 57 Tomahawks in the 2026 budget. Washington will likely also need Tomahawks for attack on Venezuelan territory,” – writes FT.

Stacy Pettyjohn, director of the defense program at the Center for a New American Security, said that Washington could allocate from 20 to 50 “Tomahawks”but it’s all the same “will not have a decisive influence on the dynamics of the war”.

Experts believe that these missiles, if transferred “will have very limited capabilities, certainly not sufficient to support long-term, deep attacks on Russia.”





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