KYIV (Reuters) -The first weapons supplies under a new programme agreed by the U.S. and Ukraine's European allies will include highly valuable missiles for NASAMS and Patriot air defence systems, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Wednesday.
Ukraine has so far secured over $2 billion in financing for U.S.-produced weapons via the NATO-led mechanism called the Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List, according to Zelenskiy.
He said he expected the total committed funds to reach $3.5 billion in October.
The first two batches, worth $500 million each, will "definitely include" air defence missiles, Zelenskiy said at a joint press conference with European Parliament President Roberta Metsola in Kyiv.
Ukraine is heavily dependent on Western long-range air defence systems to shoot down Russian missiles. Kyiv regularly renews calls for additional supplies after Russian strikes, resulting in a high civilian death toll.
Ukraine is also bracing ahead of the heating season, as officials believe Russia will accelerate strikes on the shattered energy system, including gas infrastructure.
The first batches of the equipment via PURL were already flowing, NATO's senior representative in Ukraine told Reuters.
"Four packages under the Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List have already been funded and equipment is already flowing," Patrick Turner said.
(Reporting by Yuliia Dysa; Editing by Sharon Singleton)
