2023-10-12 19:06:10
If he made the trip to us, it was in particular because Belgium had to officially confirm to him that it would make available to Ukraine F-16 fighter jets. This additional military aid has been forcefully requested for months by the Ukrainian president.
As confirmed by Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, old Belgian F-16s can be supplied to Ukraine from 2025. “It will depend on the government’s position [ndlr, belge] which will be in place at this time“, however specified the Belgian Prime Minister. For her part, the Belgian Minister of Defense provided some details on these F-16s. “We are talking about the fleet of our F-16s that we are prepared to gradually donate from 2025, depending on the rise in power of the F-35s, which will replace our combat aircraft.“, clarified Ludivine Dedonder.
During the press briefing which followed the meeting with the Ukrainian leader, Prime Minister De Croo also specified that the supply of F-16s would be accompanied in particular by assistance in the maintenance of these aircraft, an area in which experience Belgian is recognized.
The F-16 issue has divided the Belgian government’s partners for months. Under pressure from the Liberals, the Minister of Defense affirmed, just a few days ago, that it was technically impossible to deliver some of our fighter bombers at the end of their life. “I never changed my mind“, she said this morning on our microphone. “I do not know how to supply combat aircraft in the short term because they are useful for securing our airspace“. Ludivine Dedonder also insisted on the help provided for maintenance: “Having combat aircraft capability is good, but you need the ability to keep them operational.”
1697152157
#ZelenskyDe #Croo #meeting #Belgium #provide #F16s #Ukraine #release #aid #fund #billion #euros