NATO Allies Commit Billions in US Arms to Strengthen Ukraine Amid Stalled Peace Talks

NATO members pledged on Wednesday to purchase hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of additional US arms for Ukraine, urging Russian President Vladimir Putin to abandon his “bluster” and engage sincerely in peace negotiations.

Foreign ministers from the 32-nation alliance met in Brussels to discuss Washington’s efforts to end the conflict, although US top diplomat Marco Rubio did not attend the meeting.

“The peace talks are ongoing, that’s good, but at the same time, we have to make sure that whilst they take place — and we are not sure when they will end — that Ukraine is in the strongest possible position to keep the fight going,” NATO chief Mark Rutte said.

Germany, Poland, Norway, the Netherlands, and Canada committed roughly $1 billion more collectively to purchase American weapons for Ukraine.

“Ukraine needs to stay strong and we, the allies in the largest and most successful military alliance in history, need to stay firm, and we need to stay committed,” said Norway’s Espen Barth Eide.

European officials have largely been on the sidelines of US President Donald Trump’s push to end the war. Rubio’s absence in Brussels, represented instead by a deputy, risked reinforcing that perception.

Several ministers noted that Putin had not shown willingness to make concessions during talks in Moscow with US envoys.

“President Putin should end the bluster and the bloodshed and be ready to come to the table and to support a just and lasting peace for Ukraine,” said British Foreign Minister Yvette Cooper.

Officials also dismissed Putin’s remarks about being “ready” for war in Europe.

“It’s the rhetoric that Russia is making use of in order to intimidate us, and we shouldn’t take such talks too seriously,” Finland’s Elina Valtonen said. “We have very strong capabilities as NATO, as Europe, and we are ramping up by the day.”

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