Russia has no intention to attack NATO, But F-16s will be shot down: Vladimir Putin
Russia has assured that it harbors no intentions of attacking any NATO member states, including Poland, the Baltic states, or the Czech Republic. However, President Vladimir Putin cautioned that Russian forces would respond by shooting down any F-16 fighters supplied to Ukraine by the West.
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, it has sparked the most profound crisis in Russia’s relations with the West since the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962.
Addressing Russian air force pilots, Putin remarked that while the U.S.-led military alliance has expanded towards Russia since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, Moscow has no aggressive plans towards NATO countries.
“We have no hostile intentions towards these nations,” Putin stated, as per a Kremlin transcript released on Thursday. “The notion that we would attack another country – such as Poland, the Baltic States, and the Czech Republic – is simply absurd. It’s baseless talk.” Amid accusations from the Kremlin that the U.S. is waging war against Russia by supporting Ukraine with funds, weaponry, and intelligence, Moscow asserts that its relations with Washington are arguably at their lowest. Regarding the promised F-16 fighters destined for Ukraine, Putin dismissed their significance in altering the situation on the ground.
He warned that Russian forces would destroy these aircraft, similar to how they neutralize tanks, armored vehicles, and other equipment on the battlefield.
Putin also noted the potential of F-16s to carry nuclear weapons, stressing that if they are deployed from airfields in third countries, they become legitimate targets for Russian forces, regardless of their location.
Putin’s statements followed Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba’s earlier announcement that the aircraft should arrive in Ukraine within the next few months. Ukraine, engaged in a full-fledged conflict with Russia for over two years, has long sought F-16s.
Several NATO countries, including Belgium, Denmark, Norway, and the Netherlands, have pledged to donate F-16s to Ukraine, with a coalition offering to train Ukrainian pilots in their operation.
