Ukraine signs security agreement with Belgium
28 May 2024 11:40
In Brussels, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Prime Minister of Belgium Alexander De Kroo signed a bilateral agreement on security cooperation and long-term support. This was reported by the Office of the President of Ukraine, according to "Komersant Ukrainian"
According to the document, Belgium will allocate at least €977 million in military aid to Ukraine this year. In addition, the agreement provides for the provision of 30 F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine by 2028, with the first aircraft to be delivered in 2024.
Belgium guarantees timely security assistance, modern military equipment and weapons for Ukraine’s needs in various fields, including air force, air defence, maritime security, demining and ammunition. It also provides for cooperation in military training.
The agreement pays special attention to bilateral cooperation in the defence industry, support for the Ukrainian peace formula, strengthening sanctions against Russia, compensation for damages, bringing the aggressor to justice, using confiscated Russian assets for Ukraine’s needs, and assistance in economic recovery and reconstruction. Cooperation in the areas of intelligence, cybersecurity and countering disinformation will also be deepened.
In the agreement, Belgium clearly reaffirmed its support for Ukraine’s future membership in the EU and NATO.
“Festival of Security Agreements”
Belgium became the 11th country to sign a security agreement with Ukraine similar to the Budapest Memorandum. Ukraine has already signed such agreements with the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Denmark, Italy, Canada, the Netherlands, Finland, Latvia and Spain. Under these agreements, these states pledge to support Ukraine in the face of the Russian threat with finance, weapons and humanitarian aid.
The United States and Poland may be among the next signatories, as it is known that the government is negotiating with these countries.
For example, the US Ambassador to Ukraine, Bridget Brink, said that two rounds of talks had already taken place between Ukraine and the US on the content and content of the relevant agreement with the US government.
What does the Ukrainian “peace formula” envisage?
on 11 October 2022, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced to the leaders of the G7 countries a “peace formula” to overcome the Russian threat. It includes the withdrawal of Russian troops and the cessation of hostilities, defence support for Ukraine, protection of its territorial integrity, and punishment for those responsible for armed aggression. The formula also provides for counteracting ecocide and recording the end of the war.
In turn, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Russia would not negotiate on the basis of Zelenskyy’s “peace formula”.
