Ukraine and Belgium conclude security agreement. Kyiv to receive €977 million in aid in 2024
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Prime Minister of Belgium Alexander de Croo signed a bilateral agreement on cooperation in the field of security and long-term support, reported the Office of the President.
According to the agreement, Belgium undertakes obligations and readiness to provide support to Ukraine for 10 years. Already this year Ukraine will receive military aid worth at least €977 million.
For the first time such a security agreement specifies the specific number of military aircraft that will be provided to Ukraine — 30 F-16 fighters by 2028. The first jets should be delivered in 2024.
Belgium guarantees that it will provide timely security assistance, modern military equipment and weapons, taking into account the needs of Ukraine in the field of air force and air defense, maritime security, mine clearance and within the coalition on ammunition issues. It will also contribute to military training.
Separate blocks of the document are devoted to bilateral cooperation in the defense industry, support of the Ukrainian "peace formula", strengthening of sanctions, compensation for damages, bringing the aggressor to justice, use of confiscated Russian assets and assistance in economic recovery and reconstruction.
Also, cooperation between Ukraine and Belgium in the fields of intelligence, cyber security and combating disinformation will be deepened.
In the agreement, Belgium also confirms its support for Ukraine's future membership in the EU and NATO.
What are security agreements?
In 2023, on the sidelines of the July NATO summit in Vilnius, the leaders of the "Group of Seven" (G7) agreed on a Joint Declaration of Support for Ukraine. The countries noted that each of them will work with Ukraine on specific bilateral long-term obligations and agreements in the field of security. Ukraine, in turn, undertook reforms.
More than 20 countries joined this initiative. Britain became the first country to sign a final agreement. Since then, 10 more countries have signed bilateral agreements with Ukraine: Germany, Denmark, France, Italy, Canada, the Netherlands, Finland, Latvia, Spain, and now Belgium.
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