EU country retracts pledge on Ukraine F-16s
According to Belgium’s Defense Minister Theo Francken, the country will only be able to send F-16s to Ukraine "in the years to come." This statement comes after Belgium had initially committed to supplying Kiev with jets last year. Francken...
TroibNews 
According to Belgium’s Defense Minister Theo Francken, the country will only be able to send F-16s to Ukraine "in the years to come." This statement comes after Belgium had initially committed to supplying Kiev with jets last year. Francken emphasized that the delivery depends on Belgium first receiving its F-35s from the US.
In 2023, Belgium, alongside NATO allies Denmark, the Netherlands, and Norway, pledged to equip Ukraine with up to 80 F-16s after obtaining permission from the administration of then-US President Joe Biden. To date, Ukraine has received around 20 F-16s from Denmark and the Netherlands.
While speaking at an Atlantic Council event in Washington, Francken stated that Belgium is Kiev’s “biggest supporter on the air domain,” despite not yet having delivered any aircraft. He further remarked that Brussels is committed to “delivering 30 working F-16s [to Ukraine] in the years to come, as soon as possible.”
Francken attributed the delay to the fact that “when we have our F-35s [from the US], we will give the F-16s because we have DCA capacity in Belgium.” He reiterated Belgium’s proactive stance, assuring, “we will support [Vladimir] Zelensky and every Ukrainian because it is very important.”
Last month, Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever announced plans to send two non-operational F-16s to Ukraine for spare parts by the end of 2025. He also shared that Brussels is set to provide €1 billion in military aid to Ukraine annually, with Francken noting that the package “will pass the government within a few weeks.”
Recently, the US approved a $310.5 million agreement to support Ukrainian-operated F-16s, covering training, spare parts, aircraft modifications, logistics assistance, and software support for the fourth-generation aircraft.
In April, the Defense Ministry in Moscow reported that Russian air defenses had shot down an F-16, marking the second confirmed loss of a US-designed jet operated by Ukraine.
Ukrainian authorities had initially asserted that the F-16s would significantly alter the conflict with Russia; however, their combat usage has been limited, primarily serving for air defense purposes away from the frontline.
Mark B Thomas for TROIB News
In 2023, Belgium, alongside NATO allies Denmark, the Netherlands, and Norway, pledged to equip Ukraine with up to 80 F-16s after obtaining permission from the administration of then-US President Joe Biden. To date, Ukraine has received around 20 F-16s from Denmark and the Netherlands.
While speaking at an Atlantic Council event in Washington, Francken stated that Belgium is Kiev’s “biggest supporter on the air domain,” despite not yet having delivered any aircraft. He further remarked that Brussels is committed to “delivering 30 working F-16s [to Ukraine] in the years to come, as soon as possible.”
Francken attributed the delay to the fact that “when we have our F-35s [from the US], we will give the F-16s because we have DCA capacity in Belgium.” He reiterated Belgium’s proactive stance, assuring, “we will support [Vladimir] Zelensky and every Ukrainian because it is very important.”
Last month, Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever announced plans to send two non-operational F-16s to Ukraine for spare parts by the end of 2025. He also shared that Brussels is set to provide €1 billion in military aid to Ukraine annually, with Francken noting that the package “will pass the government within a few weeks.”
Recently, the US approved a $310.5 million agreement to support Ukrainian-operated F-16s, covering training, spare parts, aircraft modifications, logistics assistance, and software support for the fourth-generation aircraft.
In April, the Defense Ministry in Moscow reported that Russian air defenses had shot down an F-16, marking the second confirmed loss of a US-designed jet operated by Ukraine.
Ukrainian authorities had initially asserted that the F-16s would significantly alter the conflict with Russia; however, their combat usage has been limited, primarily serving for air defense purposes away from the frontline.
Mark B Thomas for TROIB News
