Ukraine’s Zelenskyy to sign security pact with Belgium, inspect F-16s

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to visit Brussels on Tuesday (28 May) to sign a security pact with Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo.

His visit to Belgium comes a day after the Ukrainian leader signed a similar bilateral security agreement worth €1 billion with Spain during a visit to Madrid on Monday.

Ukraine has signed several such agreements with Western partners, pledging long-term security assistance in the form of weapons supplies and training for the country’s armed forces.

According to the Belgian Chancellery, Zelenskyy will sign a bilateral security agreement with De Croo and meet King Philippe.

Defence Minister Ludivine Dedonder said that Belgium has committed to supporting Ukraine with €1.2 billion since February 2022, including €916 million planned for 2024 alone.

After the signing ceremony, he will be received at the Melsbroek military airport near Brussels, where he will receive a briefing on the operation and maintenance of Belgium-based F-16 fighter jets by the country’s armed forces.

Belgium announced its decision to deliver F-16s to Ukraine as part of an international coalition of countries and is expected to supply the first aircraft, if possible, later this year.

Under the agreement, Ukraine is expected to receive dozens of US-made fighter jets from the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, and Norway.

The first group of Ukrainian pilots graduated from the F-16 training program in the US last week.

It remains unclear whether Zelenskyy will meet with EU counterparts while visiting Brussels.

After his stop in Belgium, the Ukrainian leader is expected to travel to Portugal as part of a tour of several European capitals.

His visit comes amid Russian gains in eastern Ukraine since the start of May, in particular Kharkiv.

[Edited by Alice Taylor]

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