Ukraine and Belgium signed an agreement on security cooperation during Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s visit to Brussels. The President of Ukraine made this announcement on X.
According to Zelensky, the security agreement provides for at least €977 million in military assistance to Ukraine from Belgium this year. The document also includes Brussels’ commitment to support Kyiv during the ten-year term of the agreement.
“This agreement, for the first time, outlines the precise number of F-16 fighters—30—that Ukraine will receive by 2028, with the first arriving this year,” he said.
He noted that the agreement guarantees timely security assistance from Belgium, modern armored vehicles, equipment for the Ukrainian Air Force and Air Defense, maritime security, demining, participation in the coalition for the supply of artillery ammunition, and military training.
The Ukrainian leader pointed out that the document also provides for defense and industrial cooperation, support for the Ukrainian “peace formula,” toughening sanctions against Russia, compensation for damages, the use of frozen Russian assets, and Ukraine’s economic recovery.
“Ukraine and Belgium will also deepen cooperation in intelligence, cybersecurity, and countering disinformation. Belgium also expresses support for Ukraine’s future membership in the EU and NATO,” Zelensky said.
The Belgian government has decided to accelerate the supply of its own F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine and to do so by the end of 2024, without waiting for the formation of a new cabinet.
On May 28, Belgian Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib announced that her country was ready to provide Ukraine with 30 F-16 fighter jets by 2028.
Lahbib mentioned that Ukraine and Belgium formalized this commitment in a security guarantee agreement, RTL reported. According to the publication, the Belgian Ministry of Defense will also transfer ammunition from its stockpiles to equip F-16s for Ukraine.
According to the Belgian foreign minister, this support for Kyiv is necessary to stop Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, who is determined to push back the borders of European countries and ensure the security of Belgium.
At the same time, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Kroo said that Ukraine will be able to use the F-16 fighter jets and other weapons donated by his country only on its territory. According to de Kroo, this condition is specified in the agreement.
He also emphasized that Belgium would do its best to provide Ukraine with several of the 30 F16s promised by 2028 this year.
“This can be a good contribution to the assistance of other countries that are also providing F-16s this year. This is a very important signal to clearly state that Ukraine will have a full-fledged air capability with these fighters this year and in the years to come. Our goal is to provide this capability, not only for the aircraft themselves but also for training and maintenance,” de Croo stated.
Belgium is one of thirteen countries participating in the fighter jet coalition to provide Ukraine with modern Western aircraft. Earlier, it planned to start delivering F-16s to Ukraine, which Belgium is gradually replacing with more modern F-35s, in 2025.
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