The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE) announced that Romania is joining the US Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) mechanism to support Ukraine's defence and is allocating 50 million euros for this purpose.

According to a MAE release, the Government adopted a decision under which Romania will join the states contributing to the US proposal on the 'Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List' initiative, with an amount of 50 million euros, alongside the majority of European allies and other states that share the same perspective.

The allocation for PURL is made in compliance with the budget ceiling for 2025, the quoted source said.

The PURL mechanism represents a foreign and security policy instrument of major importance for the Administration of the US, especially in the context of the approach promoted by the Trump Administration on the fair sharing of security responsibilities among allies.

Through PURL, the US side seeks the direct and measurable involvement of partner states in supporting Ukraine and the creation of a coordinated framework for action that reflects the principles of efficiency, predictability and strategic responsibility, the MAE release mentioned.

'The contribution to PURL will support, by strengthening Ukraine's capabilities, the achievement and sustaining of lasting peace in Ukraine. The programme allows joint allocations through the NATO budget and continues allied initiatives following the Helsinki Summit, a priority reiterated also within the visit of Secretary General Mark Rutte to Romania,' the MAE informed.

Romania's participation in the PURL mechanism directly contributes to strengthening regional security and is fully in line with Romania's commitments within NATO and with the Strategic Partnership with the US, the MAE said.

The participation in this mechanism creates the premises for benefits in terms of national security, including through increased institutional interoperability, deepening military and civilian cooperation with the United States and allies, as well as by strengthening the capacity to respond to hybrid and conventional threats.

The NATO Summit in The Hague led, at the proposal of the US president, to a historic commitment by the Allies to gradually increase, over the next 10 years, allocations for defence in order to reach the level of 5 percent (3.5 percent direct military spending and 1.5 percent related spending).

This percentage will also include investments in defence, as well as those aimed at building or strengthening dual-use infrastructure, including the one dedicated to military mobility, the MAE conveyed.

Romania has in turn increased both the resources allocated and budget execution, to 94 percent in 2024 and up to 98 percent in 2025, according to preliminary data at this time.

Through the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) instrument, Romania will access 16.6 billion euros dedicated to increasing defence capacity - the acquisition of state-of-the-art military equipment, the development of technological capabilities and the modernisation of military infrastructure.

'Supporting Ukraine in the face of persistent Russian aggression is in itself a security measure. Romania observes its commitments, NATO membership means investment, action and especially the certainty of a safe future for Romanians. Through the efforts of President Trump, European leaders and President Zelenskyy, in recent discussions in the US, a new dynamic has been created for achieving a just and lasting peace. Romania contributes to European and allied diplomatic dialogue and to joint efforts to generate significant security guarantees both for Ukraine and for the region,' the MAE added. AGERPRES(RO - editing by: Georgiana Tanasescu; EN - writing by: Rodica State)