Belgium announced the delivery of F-16 aircraft to Ukraine by 2025
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By 2025, Belgium will send “several” F-16 aircraft to Ukraine. This was announced by Belgian Defense Minister Ludivine Dedonder on the RTL television channel.
“The Belgian government has decided to supply Ukraine with F-16 aircraft by 2025,” she said (quote according to TASS).
Dedonder added that the transfer of retired F-16s to Ukraine will go in parallel with the transfer of new F-35s to Belgium.
The kingdom’s Foreign Minister Aja Labib said on X (formerly Twitter) that supporting Ukraine was the best way to “protect Belgian and European citizens.” Delivery of the F-16 will “help with that,” she said.
The Belgian army currently operates 43 F-16 aircraft, which the country received in the 1980s. In 2018, the Belgian government approved the purchase of 34 F-35 fighter jets from the United States. It is assumed that they will become a replacement for the F-16. The start of deliveries is expected in 2025.
Russian authorities have repeatedly criticized the supply of Western weapons to Kyiv. In June, Russian President Vladimir Putin at a plenary session SPIEF stated that F-16 fighters will face the same fate as Leopard tanks. “They are burning. F-16s will also burn. There is no doubt about it,” emphasized He.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov promisedthat Russia will give a military-technical response if an F-16 appears in the skies of Ukraine.
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