F-16 fighter jets in a NATO exercise at Kleine-Brogel air base, Belgium, October 18, 2022. (File photo: AFP/VNA)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo met on Tuesday in Belgium. The two sides signed a bilateral security agreement, which includes additional military aid from Belgium to Ukraine.

According to Mr. Zelensky, the agreement includes at least 1.06 billion USD in Belgian military support for Ukraine this year, in addition to a support commitment for the next 10 years. Belgium previously pledged to provide F-16 aircraft to Ukraine as part of a broader initiative by European countries. In total, Belgium has pledged 1.3 billion USD in military assistance to Ukraine since 2022.

The F-16s will be delivered gradually over several years, with the first batch expected this year.

Zelensky visited Spain on Monday and signed a similar security agreement with Spain worth 1 billion USD.