Belgium to provide €8 million for non-lethal aid to Ukraine’s armed forces

Belgium will provide €8 million in non-lethal support to Ukrainian armed forces, the Federal Government announced in a press release on Thursday.

The federal council of ministers decided to provide financial assistance to Ukrainian armed forces through the NATO Comprehensive Assistance Package (CAP) Trust Fund.

“At my request, #Begov contributes to @NATO’s ‘Comprehensive Assistance Package Trust Fund’ for non-lethal support to Ukraine. Our country stands in solidarity with the Ukrainian people & will continue to support their sovereignty in every possible way,” Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib tweeted on Thursday.

Belgium plans to contribute first aid kits, shipments of winter clothing, and other equipment such as night vision goggles and pharmaceutical products.

Belgian companies, which are also expected to play “an important role” in the reconstruction of Ukraine once the war is over and will be able to participate in public tenders said Prime Minister Alexander De Croo.

“Winter is set to be a potentially crucial phase for the conflict. It is therefore essential that the Ukrainian armed forces are equipped with the necessary equipment to continue to face the Russian aggression,” Lahbib said.

“I am proud that our country was one of the first to provide equipment [to Ukraine when the war started]. Today, six months after the beginning of this unprovoked, unjustified and illegal war, we continue to do so. Above all, our country stands in solidarity with the Ukrainian people and will continue to support their sovereignty in every way possible,” she added.

Belgium’s contribution follows the decision taken by the Allied countries at the NATO Summit in Madrid in June, where it was decided to significantly expand non-lethal aid to the Ukrainian armed forces via the CAP Trust Fund to help Ukraine resist Russian aggression and prepare for post-war reconstruction, for which Zelenskyy already said he was expecting Belgium to make “a significant contribution.”

Originally created in 2016, after Russia annexed Crimea, the Trust Fund consolidated and strengthened NATO’s various initiatives to support Ukraine as a partner and candidate country. Following the Russian invasion, which started on 24 February, the CAP was revised and adapted to the current situation.

“Ukrainians have been fighting bravely for their freedom and their country for six months. This week I confirmed to President [Volodymyr] Zelenskyy that Ukraine can keep on counting on Belgium,” De Croo said.

“More than words, there are actions. Once again, Belgium is responding to concrete needs and will be providing essential equipment to Ukraine in the coming weeks,” he added.

The move comes after De Croo reiterated his support for Ukraine’s independence in a speech during a video call with Zelenskyy on Tuesday.

“We, Belgians, support you. We support Ukraine, its leadership and its people, who have been forced by a brutal aggressor to wage an existential struggle for survival. All of us around the table have unequivocally and forcefully condemned the unprovoked, unjustified and illegal Russian invasion of Ukraine.”

“The EU has never been more united, and solidarity within the EU has rarely been as strong as it is today. We stand by your side,” De Croo added.

The call took place in the context of the Second Summit of the Crimea Platform – which brings together the Heads of State and Government of 55 countries – at the initiative of Zelenskyy.

De Croo made it clear in his speech that Crimea is an inalienable part of Ukraine. “The annexation of Crimea by Russia was illegal in 2014 and remains illegal eight years later.”

“This is unacceptable and goes against all international laws,” he stated.