Mr Putin said F-16s would be destroyed if they fought in Ukraine, warning Kiev would push NATO into conflict if it deployed the fighters abroad.
"Many tanks were destroyed, including Leopards. F-16 fighters will also burn up. There is no doubt about that," Russian President Vladimir Putin said at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum on June 16.
President Volodymyr Zelensky and Ukrainian officials have long called on the West to provide F-16s to bolster its air defenses. The United States and its allies have given the green light to deliver F-16s to Ukraine, but no country has publicly announced the delivery of the fighters to Kiev.
The F-16 has rather fragile landing gear and unprotected engine air intakes, requiring a flat runway free of debris that could be sucked in by the engines during takeoff and landing. Ukraine does not have many such airfields, fueling speculation that Kiev will base F-16s in neighboring NATO member states.
US F-16 fighter jets participate in Air Defender 23 exercise in Germany on June 12. Photo: USAF
These fighters, flown by Ukrainian pilots, could take off to fight in Ukraine and then return to foreign airfields to avoid a Russian attack. However, Mr. Putin warned that this tactic could have serious consequences.
"We will have to consider the option of destroying the weapons used to attack our forces. The move to place F-16s outside the territory of Ukraine could lead to the risk of drawing NATO into the conflict," the Russian President said.
Ukrainian and NATO officials have not commented on Mr Putin's remarks.
The US had opposed supplying F-16 fighters to Ukraine due to concerns about the lengthy and costly process and escalating tensions with Russia, but recently changed its mind as Western allies and Kiev increased pressure on Washington to approve the transfer of this fourth-generation fighter model.
President Joe Biden said in May that the United States supports a joint training program with several countries to train Ukrainian pilots to fly F-16 fighter jets. However, US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said the country has not made a final decision on whether to provide F-16 aid to Ukraine.
Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley said on May 25 that it would cost $1 billion to buy 10 F-16s for Ukraine and another $1 billion to keep them flying.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on June 6 accused the West of “preparing to escalate hostilities” by pledging to supply F-16s, after delivering advanced artillery and tanks to Ukraine. “We must remember that the F-16 fighter jet family includes a variant that can carry nuclear weapons,” he said.
The F-16 fighter jets are a significant upgrade for the Ukrainian air force, which currently uses Soviet-era fighters. However, the F-16s that Ukraine may receive will not be the most modern versions, with radar and missiles inferior to Russian fighters and air defense missile systems.
Vu Anh (According to RIA Novosti, Reuters )
Source link
Comment (0)