Belgium will send two F-16s to Denmark from March to train Ukrainian pilots

Belgium will send two F-16s and around 50 people to Denmark between March and September to train Ukrainian pilots, the Belgian Defence ministry said on Thursday.

Kyiv has been asking the West for fighter jets since the invasion by Russia almost two years ago. Several Western governments promised to do so, creating the F-16 Coalition of 13 countries.

As part of the coalition agreement, Belgium is sending two two-seater F-16s and about 50 people to Denmark for two eight-week periods. They will help train pilots, technicians and mission planners.

Belgium previously announced its intention to supply Ukraine with F-16s from 2025, but that decision will have to be confirmed by the next government after the elections.

Russia, meanwhile, last week launched the deadliest attack on Kyiv since the invasion began, killing 32 people. Ambassadors from Ukraine and NATO member states will meet next Wednesday to discuss the hostilities.

^{© BELGA PHOTO GERARD GAUDIN}