Translated with AI
Ukraine will soon receive a new $2 billion American arms package, announced Matthew Whitaker, the US Permanent Representative to NATO. "We're likely to need to secure another $2 billion or more [for weapons purchases] in the next few months. We expect that to happen very soon," Whitaker said in an interview with Bloomberg TV. He noted that a meeting of NATO foreign ministers will be held in early December, where the military aid package will be finalized.
Kyiv's European allies will purchase weapons from the United States under the Ukraine Priority Needs List (PURL) initiative. $2 billion has already been allocated for this purpose, and the Ukrainian side received the first shipments in mid-October. It is expected that Ukraine will receive regular aid packages worth approximately $500 million each. According to Whitaker, in 2026, the "life support" of the Ukrainian army will be crucial. Kyiv will need $12-15 billion in American weapons to defend itself and continue fighting on the front lines, the US Permanent Representative to the UN noted. He assured that the funds for the arms purchase will be raised.
Whitaker also stated the US's intention to continue pressuring Russia to end the war. According to him, sanctions are "just one of the cards the President [US President Donald Trump] is playing." "I met with CIA Director [John] Ratcliffe in Brussels today, and we discussed other options available to the President. President Trump intends to use them when he deems it necessary," Whitaker said .
The US Permanent Representative to NATO added that Washington intends to enforce the sanctions imposed on Rosneft and Lukoil on October 22 and may also strengthen oil sanctions. Whitaker expressed hope that such measures will influence Russian President Vladimir Putin's decision to pursue a peaceful resolution to the military conflict in Ukraine.
Putin previously stated that US sanctions against oil companies are "serious" and could entail "certain consequences." However, he assured that the restrictions would not significantly impact the country's "economic well-being." He also described the sanctions as an attempt to exert pressure and warned of the risk of deteriorating Russian-American relations.
