Finland has confirmed it will not take part in NATO’s newly launched procurement mechanism to supply U.S.-made weapons to Ukraine, opting instead to focus on supporting Kyiv through its own domestic defense industry.
Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen stated that Finland is directing its resources toward a national industrial program, under which equipment for Ukraine is being sourced from Finnish defense companies. “We have allocated our resources to an internal industrial program, under which we place orders for Ukraine from companies across Finland,” Häkkänen told broadcaster YLE.
The decision comes as NATO and the United States develop a new funding model known as the Priority Ukraine Requirements List (PURL), aimed at streamlining weapons transfers to Ukraine using U.S. stockpiles. Backed financially by European allies and Canada, the initiative seeks to raise up to $10 billion, with packages expected to total approximately $500 million each and focus on urgent Ukrainian operational needs.
Although Finland has declined to join the program, Häkkänen emphasized that the country’s support for Ukraine remains firm. “We continue to support Ukraine with strong commitment and energy, but now we are prioritizing production by domestic companies,” he said.
He added that the Finnish approach had been coordinated with Ukraine and is designed to provide “maximum support,” while also reinforcing national defense capabilities — a notable consideration given Finland’s shared border with Russia.
Recent announcements under the PURL scheme include a $500 million artillery and ammunition package from the Netherlands, as well as a joint contribution of the same amount from Sweden, Norway, and Denmark. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed these commitments, describing them as vital for countering ongoing Russian attacks.
Despite choosing a separate path, Finland’s contribution is viewed as aligned with the broader NATO goal of maintaining sustained military support for Ukraine.