Belgium promises to transfer 10 F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine by end of year

Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever has stated that the country will transfer 10 F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine by the end of 2026.

Source: Anadolu Agency

Quote from De Wever: "We will supply 10 this year. We have fallen a little behind because of delays with the F-35s, but those are now starting to arrive, which will enable us to send F-16s to Ukraine."

Details: During a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the EU summit, De Wever and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy discussed Ukraine's military needs.

He also emphasised that Ukraine urgently needs operational fighter jets, calling the F-16s one of the few weapons capable of effectively defending against "Russian jet-powered drones."

De Wever also reported that during the meeting with Zelenskyy, they discussed the possibility of supplying ammunition for the F-16s, including rounds manufactured by the Belgian defence company FN Herstal.

It is noted that the leaders also discussed Ukraine's financial needs. At the same time, De Wever did not specify whether this concerned the use of frozen Russian assets, the majority of which are held in the Belgian depository Euroclear. Belgium had previously opposed using these assets to finance a reparations loan for Ukraine due to potential legal and financial risks.

Background:

• It was previously reported that Ukraine had agreed with Belgium on the accelerated transfer of three F-16 fighter jets by the end of 2026. This was announced by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
• Also in October last year, Ukrainska Pravda reported that Belgium planned to transfer F-16s to Ukraine after the commissioning of its new F-35 fighter jets.

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