NATO will have in Romania the second military supply platform for Ukraine, after the one in Poland
Patriot air defense systems installed at the military hub for Ukraine at Rzeszów-Jasionka Airport, Poland. Photo: Sergei Gapon / AFP / Profimedia
Arms deliveries to Ukraine have not decreased following US President Donald Trump's decision to stop direct US donations, said General Maik Keller, deputy commander of the “NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine” mission, according to which this mission, tasked with coordinating military aid to Ukraine, estimates that from January it will be able to use a center in Romania, in addition to the platform in the Polish city of Rzeszow, where they are currently delivered Most of the military equipment to Ukraine, reports the Reuters agency on Friday.
After assuming the presidency of the United States, in January, Donald Trump did not approve any new military aid package for Ukraine, i.e. donations, but continued the delivery of weapons and ammunition based on the aid already approved by his democratic predecessor Joe Biden, notes Agerpres.
Meanwhile, through an agreement with the Secretary General of NATO, Mark Rutte, Trump found a way that would suit him to continue the military support of Ukraine in the war with Russia, but through which this aid would be supported financially by the Europeans.
This is how the PURL initiative appeared, the acronym in English for the “List of Priority Needs for Ukraine” mechanism, through which European states buy weapons and ammunition from the US for the Ukrainian army.
Asked by Reuters if there has been a drop in military supplies since Trump stopped the donations, General Mike Keller, deputy commander of the NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine (NSATU) mission, said no. “There was no pause (…) They simply continued, and the United States does not wait for payment before delivering” military equipment ordered and paid for by Europeans for Ukraine, so “as soon as a package (PURL) is announced, the flow of equipment begins,” he explained.
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A second supply center for the Ukrainian army, in Romania, since the end of January
The mission led by General Maik Keller coordinates the delivery of arms and ammunition to Ukraine from December 2024, not only in terms of transportation, but also by matching the needs of the Ukrainian army with what the donor or financier countries of this military assistance can offer.
Speaking at the NSATU headquarters in Wiesbaden, General Maik Keller specified that the mission channeled about 220,000 tons of military aid to Ukraine in 2025, namely about 9,000 trucks, about 1,800 wagons and about 500 planes loaded with weapons, ammunition and other equipment.
The bulk of military aid to Ukraine is currently transported through the logistics center at the Rzeszów-Jasionka base, an airfield in southeastern Poland. According to the cited general, a second such center, in Romania, is expected to come under NATO command by the end of January.
General Maik Keller listed among Ukraine's most urgent needs air defense, artillery, anti-tank mines, electronic warfare capabilities and deep-attack weapons (drones and missiles) that can hit Russian airfields or refineries far behind the front lines.
