Ukraine-Belgium Bilateral Deal: F-16 Delivery and Support Commitment
Ukraine and Belgium finalised a bilateral security agreement on Tuesday, which entails the delivery of 30 F-16 fighter aircraft.
The accord was signed during a meeting in Brussels between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, as reported by Reuters.
Zelensky, in a social media post, conveyed, "The document includes Belgian military aid totaling at least 977 million euros for Ukraine this year, along with Belgium's commitment to provide support throughout the ten-year duration of the agreement."
According to The Kyiv Independent, Belgium becomes the 11th nation to enter into such an agreement, joining Spain, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Denmark, Italy, Canada, the Netherlands, Finland, and Latvia.
Following his visit to Spain, Zelensky arrived in Belgium, where he sealed the security pact with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.
While Belgium had announced in 2023 its intention to supply Kiev with F-16 aircraft, the precise number remained undisclosed until today. Denmark, the Netherlands, and Norway have also pledged to donate their F-16 aircraft to bolster the Ukrainian Air Force.
Additionally, the agreement emphasises Ukraine's other critical needs, including air defence, artillery, and armoured vehicles, as highlighted by De Croo during a press conference following the signing ceremony.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
