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Vladimir Putin threatens the West: If F-16 is given to Ukraine they will be shot down - Athens Times

Athens Times

Vladimir Putin threatens the West: If F-16 is given to Ukraine they will be shot down

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Or will not attack any NATO-owned country, he said, but stressed that if a member country strengthens Ukraine with F-16, Russian forces will shoot them down. Late yesterday, Wednesday (27.03.2024), Vladimir Putin in his statements made it clear that Russia does not intend to attack his country, but if the West offers F-16 warplanes to them they will be shot down by Russian forces. Speaking to Russian Air Force pilots the Russian president said NATO expanded eastward towards Russia after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. “We have no aggressive intentions towards these countries,” the Russian president stressed, according to today’s Kremlin announcement. “The view that we will attack another country – Poland, the Baltic countries and the Czechs are afraid – is completely foolish. It’s just bullshit,” he stressed. The Kremlin, which accuses the US of fighting against Russia by supporting Ukraine with money, weapons and information provision, notes that Moscow’s relations with Washington have probably never been worse. Asked about the F-16 warplanes, which the West has pledged to send to Ukraine, Putin estimated that these would not change the situation in the war. “If they offer F-16, and talk about it and it seems they train pilots, this will not change the situation on the field,” he noted. “We will destroy these aircraft as today we destroy tanks, armored vehicles and other equipment including multi-engine launchers,” he added. Putin also stated that the F-16s could carry nuclear weapons. “Of course, if used by third-country airports, they become legitimate targets wherever they are,” the Russian president stressed. Earlier yesterday Ukrainian Foreign Minister Nmtitro Kuleba had stated that F-16 is expected to arrive in Ukraine in the following months. Belgium, Denmark, Norway and the Netherlands are among the countries that have pledged to offer F-16 to Kiev, while a coalition of countries has announced that it will participate in training Ukrainian pilots in their use.