Belgium to send Ukraine "substantial aid", not tanks
WORLD 28 January 2023 - 03:34
Belgium will send new “substantial aid” to Ukraine that will not include tanks as the country’s own defence stock are limited, according to a proposal Defence Minister Ludivine Dedonder said she would present to the Council of Ministers on January 27.
Speaking to the Bel RTL radio station on Wednesday, Dedonder confirmed that her proposal to further aid Ukraine will not include tanks, Euractiv reports.
“This Friday, at the Council of Ministers, I will propose further aid to meet the urgent needs of the Ukrainians in terms of air defence and anti-tank warfare, as well as ammunition”.
Some 10 years ago, Belgium sold several of its tanks as these were no longer operational. While they could be bought back Dedonder argued that the companies that purchased the tanks are now asking for what she called an “unreasonable” price.
“These tanks were sold for the equivalent of €10,000-15,000 because they were no longer operational. […] We are looking at a resale price of €500,000 each, for equipment that is stored in warehouses and for which no repair work has been done,” she explained.
This means Belgium will not be following Germany’s lead in sending German-made Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, despite Chancellor Olaf Scholz having given the greenlight to other countries in possession of such tanks to do so.
Germany’s move came after months of mounting pressure from its international partners, as well as from partners within Scholz’s coalition government. Germany has indeed been hesitant about delivering tanks to Ukraine and argued it could potentially escalate the conflict and draw NATO into the war.
Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden also announced on Wednesday that his country would send 31 Abrams tanks to Kyiv, a move welcomed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
On Tuesday, Dedonder received a parliamentary delegation from Ukraine, with which she discussed military support and the new military aid in preparation.
“We continue working together with our international partners to support Ukraine and we stand united with the Ukrainian people”, she said on Twitter.
Oleksandr Kornyenko, the vice-president of the Ukrainian parliament, who was part of the delegation, requested Belgium’s federal parliament to supply Ukraine with more weapons to fight Russia’s invasion.
“More weapons can bring us peace. This may sound contradictory but it is the reality. Without these weapons, the war will last for years to come,” Kornyenko said.
Since the start of the war in Ukraine, Belgium has already delivered assault rifles, machine guns, rocket launchers, anti-tank grenade launchers and anti-tank missiles, sending military equipment worth a total of €90 million, Dedonder added.
Caliber.Az
1
|
Triumph of sovereignty: Azerbaijan's quiet victory in the withdrawal of Russian peacekeepers Has & Verdiyan on Caliber.Az
20 April 2024 - 16:30
|
2
|
Unveiling Armenia’s motives behind lawsuits at The Hague From politics to policy
20 April 2024 - 12:35
|
3
|
Azerbaijan's diplomatic masterstroke: Return of occupied villages marks strategic achievement New geopolitical reality
21 April 2024 - 11:43
|
4
|
Early Russian withdrawal from Karabakh: how has Azerbaijan’s ‘calculated risk’ strategy paid off? Contemplations with Orkhan Amashov
21 April 2024 - 10:03
|
5
|
Pro-Armenian senator urges US to cut military aid to Azerbaijan French MP questions US diplomatic response
20 April 2024 - 11:47
|
Iran welcomes Azerbaijan-Armenia border delimitation agreement
23 April 2024 - 10:36
UK to allocate £500m military aid package to Ukraine
23 April 2024 - 10:24
US wants Israel to end Gaza operation
23 April 2024 - 10:13
Great return: Azerbaijan relocates 39 more families to Fuzuli
23 April 2024 - 10:01
Azerbaijani foreign minister leaves for Czech Republic
23 April 2024 - 09:50
COP29 president meets with UN chief
PHOTO23 April 2024 - 09:38
Prime Minister Pashinyan: Armenia not to fight for Karabakh
23 April 2024 - 09:27
Armenia returns four villages to Azerbaijan, paving the way for peace in the South Caucasus
Landmark accord23 April 2024 - 09:14
Boston Dynamics' new humanoid robot freaking people out
23 April 2024 - 09:02
You can buy home in France or Italy for “price of new truck”
take these three steps before retiring abroad23 April 2024 - 07:03
Can wind and solar solve climate change?
23 April 2024 - 05:04
NASA reveals “glass-smooth lake of cooling lava” on surface of Jupiter's moon Io
23 April 2024 - 03:05
Singapore gives top-level briefings to reassure foreign banks on stability
23 April 2024 - 01:03
How might new US aid change war in Ukraine?
22 April 2024 - 23:01
Georgia ready to contribute to peace process in South Caucasus - MoD
22 April 2024 - 21:03
Erdogan: Türkiye expects Iraq to take effective steps in fighting PKK
22 April 2024 - 20:52
Armenia, US mull border delimitation with Azerbaijan
22 April 2024 - 20:40
Kazakhstan bans extremists from entering its territory
22 April 2024 - 20:31
Slovenia welcomes agreement between Baku, Yerevan
22 April 2024 - 20:23
Next Russia sanctions must target shadow oil fleet, Sweden says
22 April 2024 - 20:09
Kremlin: Withdrawal of Russian peacekeepers from Karabakh corresponds to regional realities
22 April 2024 - 20:04
Georgia welcomes start of Armenian-Azerbaijani border delimitation process
22 April 2024 - 19:55
Jordan welcomes agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia
22 April 2024 - 19:42
Germany disrupts delivery of 400 MRAP armoured vehicles to Ukraine
22 April 2024 - 19:28
Azerbaijani, Russian presidents commend Heydar Aliyev's role in Baikal-Amur Mainline project, discuss bilateral ties
During a one-on-one meeting in Moscow22 April 2024 - 19:15
Iran’s president calls for broadening economic ties with Pakistan
22 April 2024 - 19:13
UK foreign secretary seeks “new era” in Central Asia relations on visit to region
22 April 2024 - 18:59
Iran considers security in Caucasus priority
22 April 2024 - 18:44
Armenia, EU discuss border delimitation issues
22 April 2024 - 18:37
Azerbaijan reveals Armenian weapons in Karabakh
PHOTO22 April 2024 - 18:28
Azerbaijan, Georgia discuss cooperation in ICT
22 April 2024 - 17:59
Global military spending surges amid war, rising tensions and insecurity
Countries’ rating22 April 2024 - 17:47
Israel planned bigger attack on Iran, but scaled it back to avoid war
Analysis by New York Times22 April 2024 - 17:32
Greece, Spain under pressure to provide Ukraine with air defence systems
22 April 2024 - 17:17
Azerbaijan intercepts Iranian drug smugglers in Caspian Sea
Following a warning shot from patrol vessel/PHOTO/VIDEO22 April 2024 - 17:13
ANAMA reports on progress of demining operations
22 April 2024 - 17:02
Gulf – Central Asian partnership is on the rise
Global uncertainty22 April 2024 - 16:55
Political analyst: Armenia forces Azerbaijan to solve problems militarily
22 April 2024 - 16:52
Malaysian parliament chairman due in Azerbaijan
22 April 2024 - 16:47
Azerbaijan, Russia to cooperate in mountain tourism
22 April 2024 - 16:32