NATO foreign ministers meet to discuss support for Ukraine

NATO foreign ministers are set to meet in Brussels on Wednesday for talks on further support for Ukraine as well as ongoing efforts to strengthen alliance’s deterrence and defence capabilities.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stressed ahead of the gathering that Kiev remains dependant on military aid as Russia continues to attack Ukraine and called on NATO members to pledge more support.

He said he expects more contributions to the Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) financing initiative to be announced in the coming days.

This funding scheme provides for ammunition and weapons manufactured in the United States to be sold to European allies and Canada, which will then make them available to Ukraine.

The meeting is, however, likely to be overshadowed by the ongoing US-led peace efforts for Ukraine and the absence of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

It is highly unusual for a US secretary of state not to attend a formal NATO foreign ministers’ meeting in person. Rubio will be represented by his deputy, Christopher Landau.