The Belgian government has approved an additional €412 million in aid to Ukraine, announced Defence Minister Ludivine Dedonder on Friday. This latest aid package encompasses the provision

of minehunters, armoured ambulances, and artillery ammunition.

As part of the aid, three minehunters will be transferred to Ukraine in collaboration with the Netherlands. Belgium will oversee basic training for personnel at the Naval Academy, while the Netherlands will provide on-the-job training for the crews. The Department of Defence will ensure the maintenance of these vessels to guarantee their seaworthiness and operational readiness.

Furthermore, the aid includes the procurement of armoured ambulances through a joint effort by the Benelux countries. These ambulances will undergo upgrades before being transferred to Ukraine. Additionally, Defence is coordinating a collective purchase of reconnaissance drones and will supply almost 300 Lynx vehicles.

The bulk of the aid, amounting to €373.1 million, will be allocated to the provision of artillery ammunition. This ammunition will be sourced from Defence's existing stocks and acquired through an international group purchase from various companies.

Collectively, these initiatives represent a total investment of €412 million, bringing Belgium's financial assistance to Ukraine in 2024 to €575.7 million. Photo by Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU 2024 from Belgium, Wikimedia commons.