EU country blocks aid to Ukraine; Kiev raises expectations with the West about F-16, receives big "gift" from South Korea

Ukraine continues to receive optimistic information about military aid from the West as well as South Korea, while Hungary does not approve the disbursement of the next tranche of European Union (EU) military aid to Kiev.

Quốc gia EU tuyên bố chặn viện trợ cho Ukraine; Kiev muốn phương Tây 'bơm' hàng chục F-16, nhận 'quà' lớn từ Hàn Quốc

Ukraine wants 3-4 squadrons of F-16s to protect the skies. (Source: Arenalogic)

On May 16, the Hungarian government announced that it disagrees with the EU, along with other existing instruments, using the European Peace Mechanism (EPF) solely to support Ukraine.

According to Budapest, this would not allow enough funds to be concentrated to promote EU interests in other areas, suggesting that regions that also need support such as the Balkans or South Africa.

The EPF, created in 2021, is an extra-budgetary EU instrument aimed at strengthening the bloc's ability to prevent conflicts, build peace and strengthen international security.

On the same day, also related to military aid to Ukraine, Politico quoted advisor Yuriy Sak of the country's Defense Minister as saying that Kiev wants to receive 40-50 F-16 fighter jets from allies to establish 3-4 squadrons to protect the sky.

According to Mr. Sak, President Volodymyr Zelensky wants the aircraft issue to be at the top of the agenda of the Group of Seven (G7) Summit in Hiroshima (Japan) this week and at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Summit in Vilnius (Lithuania) in July.

On this issue, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his Dutch counterpart Mark Rutte on the same day pledged to build an "international coalition" to provide Ukraine with air combat capabilities, "supporting everything from training to purchasing F-16 jets".

After visiting Mr Sunak at Chequers, a suburb of London on May 15, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed "great optimism" about the establishment of this "aircraft alliance".

So far, Western countries have not provided advanced fighter jets to help Kiev control the skies against Russia, but Prime Minister Sunak announced that Britain is preparing to open a flight school to train pilots.

French President Emmanuel Macron also offered to train pilots for Ukraine, but ruled out sending fighter jets to Kiev.

In a related development, on May 17, South Korea signed an agreement with Ukraine on a plan to provide a financial aid package worth $130 million, a day after the Eastern European country's First Lady Olena Zelenska visited Seoul and offered military aid.

South Korean Finance Ministry announced that Minister Choo Kyung-ho and Ukrainian Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko signed an agreement on the above aid package in Seoul, including the form of donations and aid loans.

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