Deputy foreign minister meets Belgian defense minister: F-16 deliveries and military assistance discussed
Photo: Deputy Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha at the meeting with the Belgian defense minister (facebook.com/UkrainianEmbassyBelgium)
Ukraine’s deputy foreign minister Andrii Sybiha, as part of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s visit to Brussels, held a meeting with Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken, according to the Facebook page of the Embassy of Ukraine in Belgium.
"I provided an update on the battlefield situation, the latest developments in peace efforts, and our contacts with American and European partners," Sybiha said.
He noted that the parties discussed Belgium’s ongoing military assistance, including the planned delivery of F-16 fighter jets, as well as Brussels’ contribution to multinational initiatives, in particular the PURL programme within NATO, aimed at strengthening Ukraine’s defense capabilities.
"We also focused on energy security, Belgium’s role in reinforcing our resilience, and its support for Ukrainian defense companies," the foreign minister added.
Sybiha also stressed the need to further tighten sanctions against Russia and fully utilise frozen Russian assets.
"Decisive collective action is essential to force Russia to end the war and achieve a just peace. I expressed gratitude to the minister for his personal efforts and to Belgium for its comprehensive support of Ukraine," he concluded.
Delay in F-16 deliveries and reparations loan
In October, Defense Minister Theo Francken confirmed that Ukraine had already been allocated all the F-16 fighter jets Belgium promised to provide. However, he noted that the transfer would take place only after pilot training and the completion of technical procedures.
Later, Francken said Belgium would be able to send F-16s to Ukraine in the best-case scenario in 2026.
"We continue receiving deliveries on schedule: the first three F-35s (not four) have already arrived. They now need to become operational, which will take, I think, a year or a year and a half. Once we reach operational readiness, we will be able to transfer our F-16s to Ukraine," he said.
The EU also plans to provide Ukraine with a reparations loan financed by frozen Russian assets. However, most of these assets are held in Belgium, and the Belgian government has opposed the move, citing high risks and concerns that using the funds could complicate the peace process.
Last week, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz travelled to Brussels personally to try to convince Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever to support the initiative, but Belgium’s position has not changed.
