(MENAFN- UkrinForm) Finnish Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen announced this ahead of the NATO Defence Ministers' meeting in Brussels on October 15, according to a Ukrinform correspondent.

“This week, we are giving a new support package for Ukraine, and we have also decided to join the initiative, because we see that Ukraine must get the critical US weapons,” Häkkänen said, adding that Finland consistently provides active assistance to Ukraine-politically, militarily, and economically.

He noted that Russia is rapidly depleting its resources and becoming increasingly dependent on China and other allies. Therefore, at this stage, Western countries must ramp up support for Ukraine and strengthen sanctions against the Russian economy.

“That's the only way to achieve peace if we really want it,” Häkkänen stated.

The minister stressed that every European country must shoulder its fair share of the burden when it comes to supporting Ukraine, both on the American and European sides.

According to Häkkänen, long-range weapons are critically important for Ukraine and would have a tangible impact on the course of the war if supplied, but the decision on transferring such weapons rests with the White House.

“We are seeing that Russia is a truly long-term military threat towards the Alliance, and they are testing all the time, Finland also... But now we know that Russia is really doing its military buildup, for the next phase of its potential aggression. And what I mean is is that that they are real threats for NATO after the Ukrainian war...Through the national capabilities comes to stronger NATO, and that way we can decrease the threat that Russia is posing, of course, with the Alliance,” Häkkänen emphasized.

He added that Finland takes the need to urgently strengthen its defense very seriously. In particular, the country is purchasing 64 F-35 fighter jets, acquiring new naval vessels, and launching a major reform of its Army and conscription system, increasing the total reserve of the Finnish Defence Forces to more than one million reservists.

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Häkkänen confirmed increased Russian activity near the Finnish border, including the construction of new facilities, but assured that Finland views this situation calmly.

Earlier, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha stated that seven more countries intend to join the PURL program with concrete contributions. Deputy Head of the Office of the President Pavlo Palisa added that the total budget of the PURL initiative will rise to USD 3.5 billion in October

As reported, on October 15, a meeting of NATO defence ministers is taking place in Brussels, alongside a session of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (Ramstein format).

The PURL initiative (Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List) is a new mechanism focused on supplying Ukraine with weapons from a list of its priority needs. It enables NATO member states to finance the delivery of U.S. weapons and technologies through voluntary contributions.

Photo: Screenshot from broadcast

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