US Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker expects NATO allies to announce significant financial commitments on Wednesday for arms purchases for Ukraine to help it counter Russian air strikes.

He stated this on Tuesday during a telephone press briefing, Ukrinform reports with reference to Bloomberg.

"PURL (a special program for arms purchases through the United States, - ed.) is now operating properly and effectively. We expect our European allies to continue their purchases, and... there are big announcements expected tomorrow," Whitaker noted.

According to him, now is the time for NATO allies to take a decisive step and truly realize their commitment to Ukraine and its defense in order to create the conditions for reaching a peace agreement.

Under the special PURL procurement program, Ukraine can purchase weapons from the United States with funds from European partners after the United States stopped providing assistance.

As Ukrinform reported, a meeting of NATO defense ministers, as well as a meeting of the Contact Group on Ukrainian defense in the Ramstein format, which will be attended by US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, will be held on Wednesday in Brussels.