Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked Belgium for support, announced this Tuesday, and stated that he looked forward to further discussions on Ukraine’s accession to the European Union.
“If we want justice, Ukraine must prevail and for that we need weapons. Russia is not alone, it is receiving help from Iran. Also from North Korea. There are also things we don’t say publicly, but we see this supply offer. And that’s why we are happy with the delivery of the F-16s. The F-16 fighters will allow us to be stronger”, highlighted Zelensky, in a press conference, cited by Gazet van Antwerpen.
The Ukrainian president once again touched on the topic of Ukraine’s accession to the European Union, saying that the country “has this desire” and will prepare “the candidacy for joining NATO”, looking forward to further discussions. “This is a question of justice that must be supported,” he added.
Zelensky also took the opportunity to call on leaders from around the world to attend the Peace Conference in June, in Switzerland. “If you want peace, come. There are only two scenarios: Peace or war. Russia is trying to prevent the peace summit, but peace is possible. And it all depends on the determination of the other states. Participating in that summit is therefore very important. Thank you, Belgian Prime Minister, choose peace”, he said.
The Ukrainian president also highlighted that the situation in Kharkiv is problematic. “This region is going through difficult times. That’s why we need weapons, against Russian terror”, he noted. “We must not lose the support of our partners, and that is why we will not use weapons on Russian territory,” he further clarified.
It is recalled that Ukraine and Belgium signed, this Tuesday, a bilateral security agreement that includes the delivery of 30 F-16 fighters, during a meeting in Brussels between the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, and the prime minister Belgian, Alexander De Croo.
The document includes at least 977 million euros of Belgian military aid to Ukraine this year, as well as Belgium’s commitment to provide support to our country during the ten years of the agreement.
“For the first time, an agreement of this type specifies the exact number of F-16 fighters – 30 – that will be delivered to Ukraine by 2028, with the first arriving this year,” said Zelensky, in a share on the social network X.
The Ukrainian president’s trip to Brussels comes after Zelensky visited Spain and signed a security agreement between the two countries, which “includes a military aid commitment for 2024 of one billion euros that will allow Ukraine to strengthen its capabilities “, declared Sánchez during a common press conference.
He then leaves for Lisbon, Portugal, where he will be received in the afternoon by the head of state and the prime minister and will sign a ten-year bilateral cooperation agreement.
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