Spain and Belgium have pledged a combined 2 billion euros ($2.35 billion) in new military aid to Ukraine following recent defense talks, officials said.<\/p>\n
The agreements focus on strengthening Ukraine\u2019s air defenses<\/a>, expanding drone capabilities, and increasing long-range artillery supplies.<\/p>\n Belgium committed 1 billion euros ($1.18 billion) in military assistance for 2026, including additional F-16 fighter jets<\/a> and spare parts to maintain aircraft already in service.<\/p>\n Spain<\/a> has also pledged 1 billion euros ($1.18 billion) for 2026, with discussions centered on expanding defense cooperation under the European SAFE mechanism.<\/p>\n A key part of the talks included joint drone development, with Ukraine inviting Spanish defense companies<\/a> to collaborate and offering to test Spanish-made drones in combat conditions.<\/p>\n The discussions also addressed continued backing for the Czech initiative, aimed at supplying Ukraine<\/a> with long-range artillery for frontline use.<\/p>\n Officials said the sides aligned on priority areas of cooperation, including air defense, drones<\/a>, and artillery support.<\/p>\n The new commitments build on broader European efforts to scale up military aid<\/a> and joint defense production as Ukraine seeks to bolster its defenses amid Russia\u2019s ongoing full-scale invasion.<\/p>\n On March 30, Ukraine and Bulgaria concluded a 10-year security agreement<\/a> under which Sofia commits to help fund Ukrainian air defenses and co-produce arms.<\/p>\n President Volodymyr Zelensky said on March 11 that Ukraine received crucial PAC-3 missiles<\/a> used by Patriot air defense systems from Germany.<\/p>\n German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius secured<\/a> an agreement with European allies to deliver 30 PAC-3 missiles to Ukraine in addition to five PAC-3 missiles Berlin would provide from its own stockpiles, Der Spiegel reported.<\/p>\n