Belgium postpones delivery of F-16s to Ukraine until 2026

Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever has announced that the delivery of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine has been postponed until 2026.

The delay is due to the fact that Belgium is waiting to receive new F-35 fighter jets to replace the current fleet of F-16s.

De Wever provided no further details  in a statement before a meeting with other European Union leaders in Brussels on the expected arrival of the F-35s.

The F-16s are intended for combat use in Ukraine, though the revised delivery schedule means they will not enter service until 2026.

President Zelenskyy met with de Wever before today's EU summit.

"I thanked the government and all Belgians for their assistance, particularly for the decision to transfer F-16 fighter jets. We greatly appreciate these strong steps to protect Ukrainian lives," the Ukrainian leader wrote on X (Twitter) after the meeting.

"During our talks, we focused particularly on defence needs, primarily the supply of artillery systems and ammunition, as well as investment in Ukraine’s domestic production of long-range drones and missiles. These systems have already proven their effectiveness on the front lines, and we must work together to strengthen this advantage," Zelenskyy tweeted.

A coalition of countries led by the United States, Denmark and the Netherlands, which formed in 2023, began delivering F-16s to Ukraine last year.

Ukraine's Defence Minister Rustem Umierov met with his Belgian counterpart Theo Francken in mid-February to discuss the further implementation of the F-16 programme.