Vladimir Putin: F-16 fighter jets promised to Ukraine are targets for the Russian forces

Vladimir Putin: F-16 fighter jets promised to Ukraine are targets for the Russian forces 

Simultaneously, he asserted that the F-16 fighter jets pledged to Ukraine are subject to targeting by Russian forces, regardless of their dispatch from a third country.

Addressing Russian air force pilots at an air base near Moscow on Wednesday evening, President Vladimir Putin emphasized that Russia harbors no intentions of aggressive actions against any NATO member states, including Poland, the Baltic states, or the Czech Republic. While dismissing such notions as unfounded, he warned that if the West supplies F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, they will face interception by Russian forces. Putin expressed doubt that the deployment of F-16s would alter the dynamics on the Ukrainian battlefield.

Regarding the fighter jets, he highlighted their capacity to carry nuclear weapons and emphasized that if they are launched from airports in third countries, those airports would also be considered legitimate targets.

Vladimir Putin: F-16 fighter jets promised to Ukraine are targets for the Russian forces 

The Russian president claims that since the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, the US-led NATO has continuously expanded towards Russia. He characterizes the relationship between Moscow and Washington as being at its nadir, attributing this deterioration to the United States' provision of financial aid, weaponry, and intelligence support to Ukraine.

According to reports from Euractiv, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitro Kuleba stated that sixty F-16 fighter jets are expected to arrive in Ukraine in April following extensive negotiations. These aircraft, donated by Belgium, Denmark, Norway, and the Netherlands, are intended to aid Ukraine, which has been embroiled in conflict for two years. The donor countries have also pledged to assist in training Ukrainian pilots to operate the F-16s.

We previously highlighted that while these versatile, cutting-edge Western fighter jets offer significant support to Ukraine, their upkeep demands additional maintenance, posing challenges for integration amid ongoing warfare.

Launching fighter jets will prove exceptionally challenging, given that airbases are primary targets for Russian assaults.

Vladimir Putin: F-16 fighter jets promised to Ukraine are targets for the Russian forces 

Where has the nuclear threat disappeared to? Vladimir Putin's recent statements carry an unexpected weight, considering his past willingness to use nuclear threats against the West. Russia's most recent invocation of nuclear rhetoric came when French President Emmanuel Macron floated the idea of deploying Western troops to the Ukrainian front. Macron's proposal sparked serious debates across Europe but found little support.

In mid-March, Sergei Naryshkin, a senior figure in Russian intelligence, claimed that, based on his information, two thousand French soldiers were preparing for deployment to the Ukrainian front. He added a chilling comment, suggesting that "our swords are waiting for every Frenchman who sets foot in the territory of the Russian world." These assertions, though unverified, coincided with General Pierre Schill, the chief of staff of the French ground forces, affirming the readiness of the French army for rigorous combat.