Zelenskyy: Belgium agrees to transfer three F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine by year-end

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced that Belgium has agreed to transfer three F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine by the end of the year.

Zelenskyy noted that Ukraine will acquire these aircraft under an accelerated procedure.

"There is an important agreement with Belgium on the transfer of three F-16 fighter jets by the end of this year. We will work to receive these aircraft through an accelerated procedure," Zelenskyy wrote on X.

The president added that Ukraine has received urgent supplies of F-16 ammunition from Belgium and other countries, including Spain.

"As Russia escalates its attacks every day, we need to add more capabilities to shoot down aerial targets and protect people. I thank Belgium, Prime Minister Bart De Wever, and the entire government for taking decisive steps to support Ukraine in response to Russia's callous strikes against life," he added.

In June, Belgian Defence Minister Theo Francken reported that Belgium had decided to transfer more fighter jets to the Ukrainian Armed Forces than previously promised. He said seven F-16s would be transferred this year, four of them for use as spare parts.

In April, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said the first of the six F-16 fighter jets Norway had formally transferred to Ukraine would soon be ready for action after undergoing comprehensive maintenance abroad.