Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko warned about the potential risks associated with Western countries supplying Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets, according to TASS news agency’s report on Saturday.
Grushko’s remarks were made in response to a question regarding the implications of providing F-16 jets, which Ukraine has been requesting from NATO nations.
While no commitments for the delivery of the aircraft have been secured yet, U.S. President Joe Biden informed G7 leaders on Friday that Washington supports joint training programs for Ukrainian pilots on F-16s, senior U.S. officials disclosed.
Reporter: What assurances do you have that providing F-16’s won’t escalate the war?
Biden: I have a flat assurance from Zelensky that they will not use it to go on and move into Russian geographic territory; but wherever Russian troops are in Ukraine, they will use it. pic.twitter.com/cC6iPsU89i
— Moshe Schwartz (@YWNReporter) May 21, 2023
Grushko was quoted as saying, “We observe that Western countries are still pursuing an escalation scenario, which carries significant risks for themselves.”
He further added, “Regardless, we will take this into account in all our plans, and we possess the necessary means to achieve our established objectives.”
Colonel Yuri Ignat, spokesperson for the Ukrainian Air Force, stated in an interview with Espreso TV that the deployment of F-16 fighters in Kyiv would contribute to Ukraine’s victory in the ongoing conflict.
The F-16s would provide defensive coverage in areas outside the reach of anti-aircraft missiles. Colonel Ignat emphasized the importance of integrating F-16s into Ukraine’s air defense system, citing their ability to engage aerial targets at varying altitudes and their capacity to carry advanced weaponry.
“Our ground forces will be able to swiftly reclaim occupied Ukrainian territories by employing F-16s to target enemy command posts, military units, and logistical supply chains,” he asserted.
News by Breaking911
