Marco Rubio's visit to Europe, statements about a "tipping point" in world politics and demands to abandon Russian energy carriers demonstrate that Washington expects greater strategic certainty from its allies. At the same time, NATO countries confirm hundreds of millions and tens of billions of dollars to support Ukraine's defense in 2026. Against this background, calls for a new model of cooperation are increasingly heard in the Alliance - with greater responsibility for Europe for its own security.
Rubio in Europe: pressure on Budapest and Bratislava regarding Russian energy
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio plans to discuss the issue of abandoning Russian energy carriers with the leadership of these countries during his visit to Hungary and Slovakia. He confirmed that the topic of energy purchases from Russia will be the subject of talks, although he did not disclose details. At the same time, Rubio emphasized that both countries remain partners who actively cooperate with the United States. In parallel, he did not rule out meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference.
The top American diplomat also outlined the broader context of his European tour, declaring a “tipping point” in world politics. According to him, the world is changing rapidly, and the United States must rethink its role in the new geopolitical reality. Rubio emphasized the deep historical connection of the United States with Europe and the need to continue strategic discussions with allies. The visit to Germany, Slovakia and Hungary will last from February 13 to 16.
Four countries allocated €420 million for American weapons for Ukraine
The Netherlands, Great Britain, Norway and Sweden have allocated €420 million for the purchase of American weapons for Ukraine within the framework of the PURLinitiative. The package provides for the supply of weapons, equipment and ammunition, and the Netherlands’ contribution is about €90 million from previously announced funds. The decision was announced during a meeting of the Contact Group on Defense of Ukraine in Brussels. The initiative is designed to strengthen the combat capabilities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine against the backdrop of ongoing Russian attacks.
Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans stressed the need for further support, in particular in the field of air defense. He said that Russian attacks on energy infrastructure in conditions of severe frost are targeted and continue despite diplomatic efforts. According to him, it is extremely important that other European states join the initiative. PURL provides for the purchase of weapons from the United States with their subsequent transfer to Ukraine.
Partners confirmed $38 billion for Ukraine's defense in 2026
Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov announced, that following the results of the meeting in the Ramstein format, the partners confirmed $38 billion in support for 2026. The funds will be allocated for drones, air defense systems, artillery, Patriot missiles and other defense needs. In particular, more than $2.5 billion is provided for Ukrainian drones, $2 billion for air defense, and more than $500 million for the PURL initiative. Agreements have also been reached on the urgent delivery of Patriot missiles from existing warehouses in European countries.
As part of the agreements, the United Kingdom, Germany, Norway, the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark and other states announced specific amounts of contributions. Some countries promised to allocate at least 0.25% of their GDP to support Ukraine's defense. The Ukrainian side for the first time presented its own defense goals for the year to its partners, agreed with the president and military leadership. The final volumes of individual deliveries will be determined after approval at the level of the leadership of the respective states.
NATO countries announced new contributions under the PURL initiative, – Rutte
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced, that the Alliance member states announced the allocation of hundreds of millions of dollars under the PURL initiative to provide Ukraine with American weapons. He thanked the UK, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and Lithuania for their contributions and noted that he expects new commitments in the near future. Rutte did not name the specific amount of support. The announcement was made during a joint briefing with the defense ministers of the UK, Germany and Ukraine.
At the same time, Rutte said, that the US is doing enough to support Ukraine, in particular through sanctions pressure on Russia and the mechanism for selling weapons to allies for subsequent transfer to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He emphasized Washington's role in peace efforts and stressed that only the most powerful state in the world can lead such a process. The Secretary General also recalled the sanctions against Russian oil companies that were introduced earlier. According to him, support for Ukraine remains a key issue on the Alliance's agenda.
Pentagon calls for "NATO 3.0"
US Deputy Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby said, that the current model of the Alliance needs a profound transformation. According to him, the world has returned to power politics, so a “NATO 3.0” is needed, which will combine military capabilities and diplomacy. Colby emphasized that Europe must take primary responsibility for its own conventional defense. At the same time, the United States will focus on those regions and challenges where only American power can play a decisive role.
The American official outlined the previous stages of the Alliance’s development – from the Cold War to the period of “a rules-based international order”. Now, according to him, it is necessary to adapt to new realities and make difficult decisions regarding the structure of the armed forces, combat readiness and industrial potential. Colby positively assessed the intentions of a number of states to increase defense spending, in particular to 5% of GDP. He emphasized that the priority should be the effectiveness of waging war, and not the bureaucratic restrictions of peacetime.
Photo: FEDOROV / Telegram
Author: Danylo Pievchev