Today marks the beginning of a new chapter in relations between Ukraine and Belgium. This was stated by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a joint press conference with Prime Minister of Belgium Alexander De Croo.
Ukraine and Belgium have signed a bilateral security agreement clearly stipulating the delivery of 30 F-16 aircraft to Ukraine by 2028. The document also includes defense support. This year, Belgium will provide almost a billion euros in military aid.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized the support for Ukraine on its path to the EU and NATO, sanctions against Russia and the fair use of Russian assets enshrined in the agreement.
“Today we have discussed that this year Ukraine may receive one billion seven hundred million euros from the proceeds of frozen Russian assets. There is also a solution for reconstruction – Belgium will allocate funds for the restoration of our Chernihiv region,” the President noted.
The Head of State also thanked Belgium and the Prime Minister for the principled support of the Global Peace Summit.
“There are only two scenarios: either real peace or further expansion of the war. We see that Russia is doing everything for the second scenario and is trying to disrupt the Peace Summit. I am grateful to every leader, every state that understands this and does everything to ensure that the Peace Summit can truly become a coercion of Russia into peace,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo noted that his country will continue training the Ukrainian Security and Defense Forces in the naval sector, mine clearance, and F-16 fighter jet operations. He added that Belgium’s goal is to deliver the first aircraft to Ukraine this year.
Full text of the address: Office of the President of Ukraine
