In Brussels, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Prime Minister of Belgium Bart De Wever.
The Head of State thanked Belgium for its financial and defense assistance to our country. The leaders discussed further support for Ukraine, including strengthening its air defense. They also addressed opportunities for additional contributions to the PURL initiative and the implementation of joint projects under the SAFE instrument.
The Prime Minister informed Volodymyr Zelenskyy about preparations for a major new defense package and Belgium’s contributions to PURL.
Special attention was given to the timeline and delivery schedule for Belgium’s F-16 fighter jets. The first aircraft are expected to be delivered this year, and Ukraine hopes that subsequent deliveries will proceed without delay as well.
The President briefed the Prime Minister on the meetings held during the G7 Summit, the broader diplomatic situation, and cooperation with partners under the special Drone Deals format. Volodymyr Zelenskyy proposed a similar agreement to Belgium and suggested building a security partnership.
The parties also discussed Ukraine’s European integration. The President thanked Belgium for supporting the opening of the first negotiation cluster for Ukraine and Moldova. According to the Head of State, our country expects the remaining five clusters to be opened in the near future. Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized that, despite the war, Ukrainians continue to fulfill their commitments and that public support for EU membership remains among the highest of any candidate country. It is therefore only fair that accession negotiations move forward in line with Ukraine’s progress on reforms.
The leaders also discussed strengthening sanctions pressure on Russia’s shadow fleet.
