Belgium ready to deploy troops to Ukraine as part of “coalition of willing”

Belgian Defence Minister Theo Francken has announced that Belgium is prepared to send troops to Ukraine as part of a "coalition of the willing" led by France and the United Kingdom, once a ceasefire is signed between Kyiv and Moscow.

Speaking ahead of a joint meeting of EU foreign and defence ministers, Francken indicated that Belgium, alongside its allies, is ready to begin operations on Ukrainian territory immediately after a ceasefire agreement is reached, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media. 

In addition to the potential troop deployment, Belgium plans to provide Ukraine with €1 billion in military aid annually. The country is also seeking to expedite the delivery of its promised F-16 fighter jets.

Francken stated that Belgium aims to send the first batch of F-16s ahead of schedule, though he did not specify a new timeline. The original pledge had committed Belgium to delivering the jets by the end of 2024.

Previously, it was reported that Belgium would not be able to deliver F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine by the end of 2024 as previously promised. The delay was attributed to a lack of trained Ukrainian military pilots and a shortage of spare parts.

The "Coalition of the willing" was proposed by France and the United Kingdom in February 2025. The initiative is meant to support Ukraine’s sovereignty by upholding a ceasefire in the country and by deterring Russia once the fighting has stopped. However, several key European leaders, including Germany and Italy, have expressed caution, emphasising diplomatic efforts and negotiations for a ceasefire over further military escalation.

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Western countries have provided Kyiv with significant military, financial, and humanitarian aid, while stopping short of direct military involvement. The idea of deploying NATO troops on Ukrainian soil has been a contentious and sensitive issue, as it risks escalating the conflict into a broader war between NATO and Russia.

By Sabina Mammadli