Portugal has committed a total of 221 million euros in aid to Ukraine for the year, including 50 million euros for the PURL initiative and 10 million euros for a British drone project, with an additional 50 million euros allocated to purchase weapons from the U.S.

The British drone initiative, although led by the UK, benefits Portugal’s defense industry by fostering local drone manufacturing capabilities.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth emphasized the importance of translating military commitments into tangible capabilities during NATO meetings in Brussels.

NATO Secretary-General announced that 16 member states have already committed to supporting Ukraine with military aid, reflecting broad international backing for arming Kyiv.

During a NATO defense ministers' meeting, Portuguese Defense Minister Nuno Melo stressed the need for a clear and prudent response to violations of NATO airspace and highlighted Portugal’s involvement in border surveillance on the eastern frontier.

The ongoing international support and military aid efforts for Ukraine continue to be a significant focus amid the conflict.

Nuno Melo emphasized that the primary focus is ensuring Ukraine has the necessary equipment to win the war, noting that many of these resources are not produced quickly enough within Europe.

Many NATO allies are contributing financially to supply Ukraine with new arms packages under the Prioritized Needs List (PURL), demonstrating strong alliance support.

This announcement was made following a NATO ministerial meeting at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium.