The threat that Russia could take action against other countries after defeating Ukraine has become one of the main arguments used by Kiev and the Eastern European country's supporters to persuade the US to send more aid. 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 can come to Europe very quickly,” the Ukrainian leader said.
As for Moscow, in his latest statements, Russian President Vladimir Putin "reassures" NATO in his own way, the New York Times said.
Speaking to Russian Air Force pilots late on March 27, Mr. Putin rejected comments by some Western leaders that Russia was planning to attack NATO member countries, calling it a which is “completely meaningless”.
“The idea that we will attack some other country – Poland, the Baltic countries and the Czechs are also scared – is complete nonsense. It's just nonsense," he said, adding that Russia "has no intention of aggression against these countries."
Russian President Vladimir Putin meets military pilots in the town of Torzhok, Tver region, March 27, 3. Photo: RFE/RL
Speaking to pilots at a training center in the Tver region northwest of Moscow that he visited, Putin pointed out that Russia's military spending is only a fraction of what the United States spends. “When considering these differences, concerns that Moscow will fight NATO are meaningless,” he said.
Mr. Putin also reiterated his argument that NATO expansion after the collapse of the Soviet Union was the main reason why he decided to send troops into Ukraine in February 2.
“Have we crossed the ocean and approached the US border?”, the Russian leader asked, then answered himself. “No, they are the ones who are approaching us and have come close to our border.”
However, the Russian leader also warned that if F-16 fighter jets provided by Western allies to Kiev depart from airports in other countries to fight in Ukraine, then These bases will be “legal 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,” Mr. Putin said.
A transcript of the conversation was released by the Kremlin and posted by Russian state media on March 28, Politico said.
F-16C Viper fighter of the 162nd Squadron of the US Air National Guard based at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona. Photo: The Drive
According to Reuters, Putin's comments about the F-16 followed earlier comments by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba that the aircraft would arrive in Ukraine in the coming months.
Ukraine, now engaged in a full-scale war against Russia for more than two years, has long sought to obtain US-made F-2 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 Western warplanes.
Minh Đức (According to NY Times, Reuters, Politico EU)
