Ukraine and Belgium sign bilateral security agreement

Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine, and Alexander De Croo, Prime Minister of Belgium signing a bilateral security agreement on May 28, 2024. Photo: president.gov.ua

On May 28, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Prime Minister of Belgium Alexander De Croo signed a bilateral Agreement on Security Cooperation and Long-Term Support in Brussels.

The agreement envisages €977 million in military aid from Belgium in 2024 and a 10-year commitment to Ukraine in milirary support and cooperation.

It should be noted that the document secures a specific number of F-16 fighter jets Ukraine will receive until 2028.

“For the first time, such an agreement specifies the exact number of F-16 fighter jets – 30 – that will be delivered to Ukraine until 2028, with the first arriving already this year,” says the official website of the president.

When asked whether any conditions of use the Belgian arms exist for Ukraine during a joint press conference, Alexander De Croo stated that all the military equipment for Ukraine Belgium will provide as part of the security agreement, including F-16s, must be used within the territory of Ukraine.

Also, Alexander De Croo expressed hope that the 14th package of sanctions against Russia would be approved under the Belgian EU Presidency.

Just like other partners, Belgium has pledged to support Ukraine on its path to the EU and NATO.

Belgium is the 11th country to enter into an agreement with Ukraine. Ukraine has already signed bilateral agreements with the United Kingdom, Spain, Germany, France, Denmark, Canada, Italy, the Netherlands, Finland, and Latvia.

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