Russian President Vladimir Putin told military pilots on March 27 that if Western countries provided F-16s to Ukraine, the fighter jets would not change the situation on the battlefield, according to Reuters citing information from the Russian press.
"If they provide F-16s, and they are talking about this and apparently training pilots, this will not change the situation on the battlefield. And we will destroy such aircraft just as we destroy tanks, armored vehicles and other equipment, including multiple rocket launchers," TASS news agency quoted Putin as telling pilots at a meeting northwest of Moscow.
Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin on March 19
However, Mr Putin said that the F-16s could carry nuclear weapons and Moscow would have to take that into account in its military planning. He also stressed that if the F-16s were "used from airfields in third countries, they would become our legitimate targets, no matter where they are".
Mr Putin's warning came hours after Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said F-16 fighter jets would arrive in Ukraine in the coming months.
F-16 will be a 'difficult 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 countries has promised to help train Ukrainian pilots in the use of the F-16.
The Danish Ministry of Defense announced on February 22 that Ukraine may receive the first batch of F-16 fighter jets from Denmark this summer, according to The Kyiv Independent.
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