In Brussels, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and Prime Minister of Belgium Alexander De Croo signed a bilateral Agreement on cooperation in security and long-term support.
Belgium will allocate at least 977 million euros to Ukraine for military assistance this year. This commitment, along with readiness to provide support to our country for a ten-year period, is enshrined in this document.
For the first time in such a security agreement, a specific number of military aircraft to be provided to Ukraine is mentioned - 30 F-16s by 2028. The first fighters are expected to be delivered this year.
Belgium guarantees timely security assistance, modern military equipment, and weapons, considering Ukraine's needs in the field of air force and air defense, maritime security, demining, and within the ammunition coalition, and will facilitate military exercises.
Separate sections of the document are devoted to bilateral cooperation in the defense industry, support for the Ukrainian formula for peace, strengthening sanctions, compensation for damages, holding the aggressor accountable, using confiscated Russian assets for Ukraine's needs, and assistance in economic recovery and reconstruction. Cooperation will deepen in intelligence, cybersecurity, and countering disinformation.
In the agreement, Belgium clearly confirms support for Ukraine's future membership in the EU and NATO.
Belgium is the 11th country with which Ukraine has concluded a bilateral security agreement to implement the provisions of the G7 Joint Declaration adopted in Vilnius on July 12 last year. In total, 32 states have already joined the declaration. Prior to this, Ukraine signed bilateral agreements with the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Denmark, Canada, Italy, the Netherlands, Finland, Latvia, and Spain.
