Belgium signed an agreement with Ukraine on Tuesday that includes the delivery of 30 F-16 fighter jets until 2028 to defend against Russiabut it prevents him from using them against Russian territory.
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The intention of the Belgian Government is that The first F-16s could arrive in Ukraine before the end of this yearaccording to the document signed this Tuesday by De Croo and Zelenski, which also clarifies that the planes will be piloted by Ukrainian aviators.
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Because “you and the Ukrainian people deserve the tools necessary to protect the population against this complete illegal aggression”De Croo told Zelensky.
Although given the debate that has opened in NATO and the European Union, about how far military support for kyiv should go, the Belgian Prime Minister pointed out that “everything this agreement covers is very clear: it is for them to use.” the Ukrainian Defense Forces on Ukrainian territory”.
Everything this agreement covers is very clear: it is for use by the Ukrainian Defense Forces on Ukrainian territory.
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Belgium, which is part of the coalition with the Netherlands, Denmark and Norway to deliver the F-16s to kyiv, also committed to continue training the Ukrainians in the handling of these devices, which Zelensky himself later visited at the Melsbroek military airfield, on the outskirts of Brussels.
The pact also includes financial support of 977 million euros in 2024 in military aid, helping Ukraine continue to obtain ammunition and artillery, commitment to maritime security in the Black Sea and assistance in demining efforts.
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And in this context, De Croo urged the Hungarian Prime Minister, Viktor Orbán, to lift its veto so that the EU can use almost 7 billion euros to co-finance the shipment of military material to Ukraine.
“Every day that the European Peace Support Fund does not send weapons to defend the population of Ukraine is a day in which, unfortunately, innocent lives are lost,” said the Belgian prime minister, who, however, was convinced of that the EU will reach an agreement.
After passing through Belgium, Zelensky, who asked the leaders of the international community to attend the peace conference to be held in Switzerland between June 15 and 16, traveled to Lisbon to sign another military support agreement with Portugal. .
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