Belgium may deliver new batch of F-16s to Ukraine earlier than planned

This was stated by Belgium’s Defense Minister Theo Francken before the EU Foreign Affairs and Defense Ministers Council in Brussels, reports Ukrinform.

“Regarding the F-16 aircraft, we will be and remain part of this coalition. And we will try to deliver the F-16 jets even earlier than the set deadline,” he emphasized.

According to him, Belgium is trying to be quite active within the Coalition of the Willing.

“At the level of the chiefs of general staff, there is a working group, and they are working under the leadership of the United Kingdom and France. They are developing a plan and cooperating very closely. We have almost reached the goal. So, I believe the situation is moving in the right direction,” Francken said.

He added that Belgian military personnel could be deployed to Ukraine as part of a peacekeeping mission as soon as a stable ceasefire is announced.

“As soon as a stable ceasefire is declared, we will be able to immediately start an operation on Ukrainian territory together with the Coalition of the Willing. It is very important to continue supporting Ukraine and to ensure Ukraine knows it can count on Europe,” the minister summarized.

F-16 fighter jets for Ukraine

Discussions about transferring F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine began back in 2022. U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Africa Commander General James Hecker stated that Ukraine would receive F-16s only 2-3 years after the corresponding political decision was made.

Key decisions were made in May 2023 when U.S. President Joe Biden approved training Ukrainians on F-16s. A few days later, at the Ramstein-12 meeting of Ukraine’s allies, a decision was made to create an air coalition to train Ukrainian pilots.

The Netherlands, Denmark, Belgium, and Norway volunteered to provide F-16 fighters to Ukraine.

The first F-16 fighters arrived in Ukraine in August 2024. In March 2025, it became known that Belgium postponed the delivery of F-16s to Ukraine by one year.

In April, Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever said the country plans to provide Ukraine with two F-16 fighter jets for spare parts by the end of this year, and two more planes next year.