Belgium announces multi-million dollar aid for Ukraine

On August 29 this year, Belgium announced its intention to transfer additional weapons worth 100 million euros to Ukraine and accelerate the delivery of F-16 fighter jets. This was stated by the country’s Defense Minister, Theo Francken.

,,We will provide this military aid and we will also accelerate the transfer of our F-16 aircraft as much as possible’’, the Defense Minister said.

At the same time, Francken did not rule out sending Belgian troops to Ukraine after the end of the conflict, while emphasizing that the involvement of the national army before the end of hostilities is far too risky.

,,We are ready, as part of a ,,coalition of the willing’’, together with Britain and France, to start operating on Ukrainian territory immediately after a ceasefire is reached’’, he added.

The minister noted that he sees sanctions against the Russian Federation as a tool for pressure to achieve a peace agreement and expressed skepticism about an imminent ceasefire in Ukraine.

He also spoke out in favor of supplying weapons to Ukraine in the long term. It is not yet clear what timeframe the minister is talking about, as the Belgian authorities previously promised to send their fighter jets to Kiev ,,by the end of 2025”. However, the deadline ,,is constantly being postponed” due to delays in the delivery of F-35 fighter jets ordered by Brussels from the United States.