Belgium approves new Ukraine aid worth €92 mln

On May 12, the Belgian government approved a new aid package for Ukraine in the amount of 92 million euros.

The country received the funds in the form of taxes on frozen Russian assets, RTBF reports.

Half of the amount is allocated for new military aid, in particular, the supply of armored vehicles, weapons, and ammunition.

The success of this new aid will lie in the speed with which the new equipment can be delivered to Ukraine. Our country's goal with this new arms and ammunition package is to meet the needs on the ground in a very short timeframe, defense minister Ludovine Dedonder said.

The delivery is also not part of the German, Dutch, and Danish initiative to supply Leopard I tanks to Ukraine, which Belgium was considering joining and "which is ongoing."

Humanitarian aid worth €24 million will be allocated in coordination with the United Nations to basic needs such as education, health, and food security in the major cities and war zones.

A further €8 million will go to the reconstruction of Ukraine through funds set up by the European Investment Bank and the World Bank.

Belgium will allocate €46 million to support the people of Ukraine and strengthen the Belgian diplomatic presence.

Last year, Belgium earned €625 million by taxing the income of frozen Russian assets.

Poland and the Baltic countries called on the EU to hand over frozen Russian assets for the restoration of Ukraine as soon as possible.