Ukraine updates: Belgium to deliver 30 F-16 fighter aircraft

Belgium is committed to delivering 30 F-16 combatant jets by 2028 to assistance Kyiv successful countering Russia's invasion.

It is portion of a information statement Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed with Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo.

The Ukrainian person is connected a two-day circuit of Spain, Belgium and Portugal to drum up enactment for Kyiv.

Here's a look astatine the latest developments from Russia's warfare successful Ukraine connected Tuesday, May 28:

05/28/2024May 28, 2024

Zelenskyy urges Biden to be bid summit

US President Joe Biden should be a planned bid acme connected Ukraine successful Switzerland adjacent month, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told a quality league successful Brussels.

He said Biden's lack would payment Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"(The) bid acme needs President Biden and truthful bash the different leaders who look astatine the absorption of the United States. His lack would beryllium an applause to Putin, a idiosyncratic lasting applause to Putin," Zelenskyy added.

Last week, Bloomberg reported that Biden would apt miss the peace summit, scheduled for June 15 and 16,  arsenic it clashes with a US statesmanlike campaign fundraiser helium is acceptable to attend.

Zelenskyy said implicit 80 delegations person already agreed to be the summit. He said countries that skip the acme are "satisfied" with the warfare successful Ukraine. 

"Putin is precise frightened of the bid summit," Zelenskyy said connected a sojourn to Brussels. "He has been trying to thwart this acme and continues to bash so," Zelenskyy added. 

05/28/2024May 28, 2024

Borrell tells EU defence ministers not to fearfulness escalation with Russia

The EU's overseas argumentation chief, Josep Borrell, called connected countries to measurement their concerns astir escalating tensions with Russia against Ukraine's close to self-defense. 

He emphasized that Kyiv had the close to usage Western arms to onslaught wrong Russia.

"According with the instrumentality of war, it is perfectly possible and there is nary contradiction.

"I could retaliate, oregon I could combat against the 1 who fights against maine from his territory," Borrell said astatine the commencement of a gathering with European Union defence ministers.

"You person to equilibrium the hazard of escalation and the request for Ukrainians to defend."

The calls came aft NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said connected Monday that "the clip had come" for allies to reconsider their restrictions, particularly arsenic Russia is pounding the Ukrainian metropolis of Kharkhiv from its ain territory.

05/28/2024May 28, 2024

Zelenskyy signs information pact with Belgium

Ukraine and Belgium person signed a bilateral information agreement, which includes the transportation of 30 F-16 combatant craft to Kyiv to assistance successful its warfare against Russia.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the statement worthy €977 cardinal ($1.06 billion) connected societal media.

"For the archetypal time, specified an statement specifies the nonstop fig of F-16 combatant jets - 30 - that volition beryllium delivered to Ukraine until 2028," Zelenskyy wrote aft signing the accord with Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo.

Zelenskyy sees the planes' transportation arsenic cardinal successful stopping Russia from hitting the powerfulness grid and civilian areas, arsenic good arsenic different subject targets successful Ukraine.

"Ukraine tin lone propulsion backmost the invader if we supply amended arms astatine [a] faster pace," De Croo said during his gathering with Zelenskyy.

Zelenskyy is connected a whirlwind circuit of Spain, Belgium and Portugal to drum up enactment for Kyiv.

On Monday, Spain pledged to supply Ukraine with €1.1 billion ($1.2 billion) worthy of defense assistance including anti-aircraft missiles, Leopard tanks and ammunition.

lo/rmt (AFP, AP, dpa, Reuters)