Many members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) have pledged to send American-made F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jets to Kyiv. Some of them have already trained Ukrainian pilots to fly these fighter jets.
Russia has stated that deploying the nuclear-capable fighter jets will represent an objectionable escalation of the war.
After Washington announced last year that it would permit the transfer of F-16 jets from Denmark, Belgium, Norway and the Netherlands – all NATO members – to Ukraine, Putin claimed the aircraft would make no difference and he reiterated that position on Thursday, March 28. (Related: Joe Biden is preparing to provide US F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine – World War III can’t come fast enough for these elites.)
"If they supply F-16s, and they are talking about this and are apparently training pilots, this will not change the situation on the battlefield. And we will destroy the aircraft just as we destroy today tanks, armored vehicles and other equipment, including multiple rocket launchers," Putin said.
Putin was referring to the recently verified losses of several United States-made M1 Abrams main battle tanks, a HIMARS mobile rocket launcher and a Patriot air defense battery. The losses were widely seen as major blows to Ukraine's war effort.
14 NATO countries to deliver F-16s to Ukraine
At least 14 NATO nations have promised to deliver F-16s to Ukraine and provide training for Ukrainian pilots. The first batch of the F-16s is expected to arrive in the country by the summer of 2024.
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"Of course, if they will be used from airfields in third countries, they become legitimate targets for us wherever they might be located," Putin said, suggesting that Russia might target these F-16s even if they are seen outside of Ukraine.
The comments came during Putin's visit to Torzhok air base in the Tver Oblast situated north of Moscow, home to the 344th Training Center for Russian combat pilots. The base is also being used as a training ground for troops who will take part in the conflict against Ukraine.
Putin mentioned that Russia is aware that the fighter jet can carry nuclear weapons, and this will be taken into consideration in combat operations.
The single-engine fighter is a late 1970s design, initially made by General Dynamics before it was obtained by Lockheed Martin. It requires clean runways, which are in short supply in Ukraine, causing speculation that Ukrainian-operated aircraft might be stationed in neighboring NATO nations instead.
But Putin made it clear the Russia does not intend to start a war with another country.
"We have no aggressive intentions towards these states," said Putin, referring to NATO member states Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and the Czech Republic.
"The idea that we will attack some other country is complete nonsense. It's just drivel," Putin told a team of Russian pilots during his visit to the 344th Army Aviation Center in Torzhok.
The Kremlin has accused NATO and America of carrying out a proxy war against Russia by giving Kyiv money, weapons and intelligence. Early this month, Putin also warned that Russia could face NATO in a full-scale war, saying that "anything is possible in today's world."
The Russian president has continued to build Russia's unjustified invasion of Ukraine as a proxy war between Moscow and the U.S.-led international military alliance.
Putin also took note of the difference in military budgets between the U.S., which spent $811 billion in 2022, and Russia’s expenditure on defense of $72 billion. "With this ratio in mind, are we going to fight NATO? This is just nonsense," Putin said.
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Watch Rick Wiles of TruNews comment about Putin's vow to destroy U.S.-built F-16 fighters sent to Ukraine below.
This video is from the TruNews channel on Brighteon.com.
More related stories:
Putin denies Biden's claim that Russia plans to attack NATO, calls it COMPLETE NONSENSE.
Conflict between Russia and NATO could push the world closer to WORLD WAR III, Putin warns.
FLIRTING WITH DISASTER: Biden clears way for Ukraine to obtain F-16 fighter jets.
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