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United States Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth warned Russia’s Putin that US and NATO would “impose costs on Russia” for its war on Ukraine.
Pete Hegseth also asked NATO to become part of PURL and said that no “free riding” would be allowed. (IMAGE: REUTERS)
United States Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth warned Russia on Wednesday that US and NATO allies would “impose costs on Russia for its continued aggression” if the war on Ukraine does not end.
“Firepower, that’s what is coming,” Hegseth said, in an apparent reference to weapons to Ukraine through European nations’ purchases of US weapons. He did not clarify whether that would include American-made Tomahawk missiles.
However, a report by news agency AFP said citing an Ukrainian official that talks scheduled on Friday between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US President Donald Trump will focus on the possible delivery of American long-range Tomahawk missiles for Kyiv.
“The main topic of discussion is Tomahawks. Of course, there is also the issue of Patriots,” the Ukrainian official said, referring to US air defence batteries.
The Ukrainian leader plans to arrive in Washington on Thursday ahead of the talks, the source added.
Speaking at a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group of Kyiv’s allies at NATO headquarters in Brussels, he urged NATO nations to increase spending under the new Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) initiative.
“(It is time) turn words into action in the form of PURL investments. All countries around this table, no free riders,” he said, according to US broadcaster CNN, who first reported the development.
Ukraine remains heavily reliant on American weapons as its war with Russia nears the four-year mark in February 2026.
Through the PURL programme, Washington has pledged $2 billion in military aid, though this remains well below the $3.5 billion Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had hoped to secure by October.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte reacting to Hegseth said that more than half of NATO member states have now committed to the PURL program. Rutte said that the commitments made by European nation will soon turn into “capabilities” for Ukraine.
“Coming out of today’s meeting we have over half of all allies so more than 16, 17 allies now committing to PURL,” he said.
“The road to peace in Ukraine goes by having more sanctions on the Russian economy and it goes by delivering more weapons to the Ukrainians,” Sweden’s Defense Minister Pal Jonson said.
Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev…Read More
Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev… Read More
Brussels, Belgium
October 16, 2025, 3:04 PM IST
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