Belgium, Germany, Sweden, Netherlands announce new military aid, F-16s for Ukraine ahead of NATO defense ministers’ meeting

(Tania Myronyshena – The Kyiv Independent) Belgium, Germany, Sweden and the Netherlands announced new military assistance for Ukraine on June 18, including F-16 fighter jets, ahead of a meeting of NATO defense ministers in Brussels. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told journalists that strengthening Ukraine’s air defenses, including Patriot systems and anti-ballistic missiles, would be among the key priorities of the meeting, particularly as Russia continues its large-scale missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian cities. Zelensky said that around 10 countries had expressed support for the new Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) packages. – Belgium, Germany, Sweden, Netherlands announce new military aid, F-16s for Ukraine ahead of NATO defense ministers’ meeting