Defence minister plans visit to Kyiv with PM and reaffirms support for Ukraine
Belgian Defence minister Theo Francken intends to visit the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, as soon as possible alongside prime minister Bart De Wever. He announced the plan on Wednesday following a meeting in Brussels with his Ukrainian counterpart, Rustem Umerov. While the visit is at Ukraine’s invitation, no date has been set.
Francken reaffirmed Belgium’s support for Ukraine in its fight against Russia’s war of aggression. “We have made it clear that Belgium is maintaining the pro-Ukrainian line,” he said. He also hinted at further assistance, saying “a lot” more aid was on the way, both through European resources and bilateral support.
Before the visit, Belgium must still resolve various budgetary and technical aspects of its support. “That will be clear before we get to Kyiv,” Francken said.
During their discussions, Umerov remained relatively reserved about the potential policies of newly elected US president Donald Trump. However, according to Francken, of N-VA, the US continues to back Ukraine and remains committed to peace.
The meeting also covered future military and economic cooperation between Belgium and Ukraine. Umerov referred to “major projects” in the works and took the opportunity to congratulate Francken on his appointment, thanking him for their discussions.
Currently, Ukraine is using two F-16 fighter jets for training, but the timeline for the arrival of additional aircraft remains uncertain. Belgium has pledged to deliver 30 F-16s by 2028. The first jets were initially expected by the end of last year, but delays arose. Fomer Defence minister Ludivine Dedonder attributed the setback to a shortage of trained Ukrainian pilots and a lack of spare parts.
Belgian Defence minister Theo Francken at meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart, 12 February 2025, in Brussels © BELGA PHOTO ERIC LALMAND
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