An EU country says Ukraine is a 'buffer zone' between NATO and Russia; F-16 and Su-35S have their first air combat

According to THX, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on February 22 spoke out against Ukraine joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and pledged to prevent Kiev from joining the European Union (EU) if this step goes against Budapest's interests.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban speaks about the situation in his country at the Varkert Bazaar conference in Budapest, Hungary, March 22. (Source: EPA)

In his speech on the situation in the country, Prime Minister Orban declared: “Ukraine will never become an EU member if such a step goes against the interests of Hungary and the Hungarian people.”

He also stressed Budapest's right to decide on EU membership and warned that Kiev's entry into the bloc would destroy Hungary's agricultural sector and the entire economy .

Prime Minister Orban highlighted the importance of the post-war period for Ukraine, saying that this period is more important than the period during which the conflict took place.

The Hungarian leader affirmed Ukraine's role as a "buffer zone" between NATO and Russia, while firmly rejecting the idea of ​​Kiev becoming a member of the North Atlantic military alliance.

In another development related to the conflict, on the same day, February 22, the Telegram Military Observer channel reported that the first long-range air battle between a Ukrainian F-16 fighter jet and a Russian Su-35S was recorded in the war zone on February 21.

According to the data, the missiles involved in the air battle could have been launched from western Ukraine or from NATO member states located near the country. The losses of both sides in the air battle were not announced.

Currently, the Ukrainian Air Force owns about 20 F-16 fighters.

Meanwhile, the Telegram channel Archangel Spetsnaz said on February 22 that Ukrainian F-16 fighters have begun approaching the Russian border in Kursk province more frequently, along with the move of reserve forces to Ukraine's Sumy province.

According to Archangel Spetsnaz , if previously F-16s only flew to Sumy, now this type of fighter jet has operated closer to Russian territory. In addition to F-16s, two Ukrainian MiG-29 fighters have also been regularly recorded appearing in the sky.

On February 20, a MiG-29 dropped two guided bombs in the direction of Sverdlikovo in Russia’s Kursk region. This action coincided with the Ukrainian army increasing the transfer of reserve troops to Sumy province.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/mot-quoc-gia-eu-noi-ukraine-la-vung-dem-giua-nato-va-nga-f-16-va-su-35s-lan-dau-khong-chien-305309.html