NATO to coordinate regular and large-scale arm deliveries to Ukraine

 NATO has started coordinating regular deliveries of large weapons packages to Ukraine after the Netherlands said it would provide air defense equipment, ammunition and other military aid worth 500 million euros ($578 million),  The Associated Press reported.

Sweden also announced Tuesday it would contribute $275 million to a joint effort along with its Nordic neighbors Denmark and Norway to provide $500 million worth of air defenses, anti-tank weapons, ammunition and spare parts.

Two deliveries of equipment, most of it bought in the United States, are expected this month, although the Nordic package is expected to arrive in September. The equipment is supplied based on Ukraine’s priority needs on the battlefield. NATO allies then locate the weapons and ammunition and send them on.

“Packages will be prepared rapidly and issued on a regular basis,” NATO said Monday.

According to the agency, the Kiel Institute estimates that as of June European countries had provided 72 billion euros ($83 billion) worth of military aid  to Ukraine since the start of  war in February 2022, compared to $65 billion in U.S. aid.