According to the defense minister, Belgium is unable to provide tanks as “they were sold a decade ago”
The Belgian government today announced new funding for civilian aid and the provision of missiles, mortars, ammunition and armored vehicles to Ukraine.
“These are mainly anti-aircraft missiles, anti-tank missiles, machine guns, grenades and other military equipment that allow Ukraine to continue to defend itself against the Russian invasion,” Defense Minister Ludivine Dedode said at a press conference.
On the contrary, Belgium is unable to provide tanks, as requested by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The demand was met by pledges from about six Western partners, including the United States, Germany, Canada and even Britain this week.
Belgium has also delivered 38,000 tons of fuel, mostly diesel, to Ukraine over the past year.
Dedode explained that there are no more tanks in the warehouses of the Ministry of Defense. They were sold a decade ago.
The new defense ministry aid was valued at 93.8 million euros, bringing the total amount of Belgian aid to almost 228 million since the war began in February 2022. It was presented as a contribution to enable the Ukrainian army to “prevent a new attack by the Russian military in the coming weeks”.
“The Ukrainian people need our support in the face of a targeted attack on the foundations of our society,” Dedode said.
In terms of civilian and humanitarian aid, Prime Minister Alexandre De Croix spoke of delivering “ambulances, tents, medical kits, generators” and contributing to an international financing program to transport agricultural raw materials out of Ukrainian ports.
“Total civilian support amounts to 86 million euros: 69 million in humanitarian aid to which is added 10.6 million for recovery and reconstruction,” the Flemish liberal official said.
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