European Union defence ministers are meeting in Brussels to try again to raise military support to Ukraine.
The meeting on Tuesday comes as Ukraine and several EU states seek to increase supplies of weapons and ammunition amid efforts by Hungary, which has long appeared to follow a pro-Russian line, to block aid.
The urgency has grown in the third year of Moscow’s full-scale invasion as Ukraine finds itself on the back foot, provoking pleas from Kyiv and increased efforts by its closest allies.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is on a two-day tour of Spain, Belgium and Portugal in a bid to drum up additional support. He has already secured several pledges.
Belgian Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib said on Tuesday that Brussels will equip Ukraine with 30 F-16 fighter jets with the first deliveries planned for this year, the Belga news agency reported.
The planes will be supplied as part of a security agreement signed between the two countries that will see Belgium provide at least 977 billion euros ($1.06bn) in military aid.
Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo further disclosed that Ukraine can only push back the invader if we provide better arms at a faster pace.
