Zelenskyy discusses F-16 delivery schedule with Belgian PM

Khrystyna Bondarieva , STANISLAV POHORILOV - 18 June, 15:48

Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Bart De Wever. Photo: Zelenskyy on social media

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever in Brussels on 18 June and discussed the schedule for the delivery of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine.

Source: Zelenskyy on X (Twitter), as reported by European Pravda

Details: Zelenskyy said he and the Belgian prime minister held detailed talks on support for Ukraine's defence. In particular, Belgium is preparing a new substantial aid package and a contribution to the Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) programme, a US-NATO initiative under which European NATO allies purchase American weapons for Ukraine.

The meeting also focused on the timeline for Belgium's delivery of fighter jets to Ukraine.

Quote: "We also reviewed the schedule for F-16 fighter deliveries. The first arrivals will be this year already. This kind of help with air defenсe is what's most needed right now."

Background:

On 18 June, Belgian Defence Minister Theo Francken said that Belgium has decided to transfer more fighter jets to the Armed Forces of Ukraine than previously promised. Belgium will provide seven F-16s this year, four of which will be used for spare parts.
During a visit to Kyiv last year, Belgium's prime minister outlined a timeline for the promised F-16 deliveries, but those plans were not fulfilled.
In April this year, Norway's prime minister said that the first of the F-16s pledged by his country for Ukraine would soon be ready to fly.

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