The F-16s intended for Ukraine will also be destroyed.

Russian President Vladimir Putin told military pilots on March 27 that if Western countries supplied Ukraine with F-16s, the fighter jets would not change the situation on the battlefield, according to Reuters, citing Russian media reports.

"If they supply F-16s, and they are talking about this and seemingly training pilots, then this will not change the situation on the battlefield. And we will destroy those aircraft just like we destroy tanks, armored vehicles and other equipment, including multiple rocket launchers," TASS quoted Putin as saying to pilots at a meeting northwest of Moscow.

Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin on March 19.

However, Putin stated that F-16s can carry nuclear weapons and Moscow will have to take that into account in its military plans. He further emphasized that if the F-16s "are used from airfields in third countries, they will become legitimate targets for us, wherever they are."

Putin issued the warning hours after Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said that F-16 fighter jets would arrive in Ukraine in the coming months.

The F-16 will be a 'tough lady' for Ukraine.

Belgium, Denmark, Norway, and the Netherlands are among the countries that have pledged to donate F-16s to Ukraine. A coalition of several nations has promised to help train Ukrainian pilots on how to use the F-16.

The Danish Ministry of Defence announced on February 22 that Ukraine could receive its first batch of F-16 fighter jets from Denmark this summer, according to The Kyiv Independent.

Source link: https://thanhnien.vn/ong-putin-ra-canh-bao-neu-phuong-tay-cung-cap-f-16-cho-ukraine-185240328063752429.htm