Belgium Commits Additional €100 Million in Military Aid to Ukraine Through NATO Program
Brussels, The Gulf Observer: Belgium announced on August 29 that it will provide Ukraine with an additional €100 million ($117 million) in military assistance this year under NATO’s Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) program.
According to Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, this new pledge comes on top of the €1 billion ($1.17 billion) in military aid that Belgium has already delivered to Kyiv. In a post on X, he expressed gratitude to Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken, as well as to the Belgian people and government, for their continued support, calling it vital to Ukraine’s fight for freedom.
The PURL program, established as part of U.S. President Donald Trump’s initiative to shift more of the financial burden of supporting Ukraine to European partners, pools contributions from NATO member states to purchase U.S. weapons, munitions, and equipment for Kyiv. To date, the mechanism has raised around €1.5 billion, with contributions from Germany, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and the Netherlands.
Speaking to journalists during the EU defense ministers’ meeting in Copenhagen, Francken reaffirmed Belgium’s long-term commitment, stating that his country will “keep on supporting Ukraine with everything we have.” He also noted that Belgium’s promised F-16 fighter jets would be delivered to Ukraine “as soon as possible.”
Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot had earlier indicated on August 26 that the first F-16s could be transferred to Ukraine in the coming months. Kyiv has already received U.S.-made fighter jets from Denmark and the Netherlands, bolstering its air defense capabilities.
Francken also condemned Russia’s escalating strikes, noting in a statement on X: “Russia is increasing its deadly attacks. We stand with Ukraine and must respond to this in unity.” His comments followed a mass aerial assault by Moscow’s forces on August 28 that killed 23 people in Kyiv and injured dozens more.
