The threat that Russia could act against other countries after defeating Ukraine has become one of the main arguments used by Kiev and the Eastern European country's supporters to convince the United States to send more military aid.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in an interview with CBS News published on March 28, reiterated that war “could come to Europe and America.” “It could come to Europe very quickly,” the Ukrainian leader said.
On Moscow's side, in his latest statements, Russian President Vladimir Putin "reassures" NATO in his own way, the New York Times reported.
Speaking to Russian Air Force pilots late on March 27, Mr. Putin dismissed comments by some Western leaders that Russia was planning to attack NATO member countries, calling it “absolute nonsense.”
“The idea that we will attack some other countries – Poland, the Baltic states and the Czechs are also scared – is complete nonsense. It is just nonsense,” he said, adding that Russia “has no intention of aggression against these countries.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with military pilots in the town of Torzhok, Tver region, March 27, 2024. Photo: RFE/RL
Speaking to pilots at a training center in the Tver region, northwest of Moscow, that he visited, Mr Putin pointed out that Russia’s military spending was a fraction of what the US spent. “When you consider this difference, fears that Moscow will fight NATO are nonsense,” he said.
Mr Putin also reiterated his argument that NATO expansion after the collapse of the Soviet Union was the main reason for his decision to send troops into Ukraine in February 2022.
“Have we crossed the ocean and come close to the American border?” the Russian leader asked, then answered himself. “No, it is they who are approaching us and have come close to our border.”
However, the Russian leader also warned that if F-16 fighter jets provided to Kiev by Western allies were to take off from airfields in other countries to fight in Ukraine, these bases would be “legitimate targets” for attack.
“The F-16 can also carry nuclear weapons, and we will have to take this into account when organizing our combat operations,” Putin said.
A transcript of the conversation was released by the Kremlin and published by Russian state media on March 28, Politico said.
An F-16C Viper fighter jet of the 162nd Fighter Wing of the US Air National Guard stationed at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona. Photo: The Drive
According to Reuters, Putin's comments about the F-16s follow earlier comments by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba that the aircraft would arrive in Ukraine in the coming months.
Ukraine, which has been at war with Russia for more than two years, has long sought to acquire US-made F-16 fighters.
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 to use the Western fighter jets .
Minh Duc (According to NY Times, Reuters, Politico EU)
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