Putin guarantees not to attack NATO countries, except in the case of F-16 fighters

The president of Russia, Vladimir Putinstated that he had no plans to attack any member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) during an event with the Russian air force on Wednesday 27. But he declared that if Western nations supply F-16 fighters to Ukrainethe planes will be shot down.

Addressing air force pilots, Putin accused the US-led military alliance of purposefully expanding eastward toward Russia since the fall of Russia. Soviet Union, in 1991. According to the Reuters news agency, the Kremlin, which accuses Washington of being at war against Moscow just because it supports Kiev with money, weapons and intelligence information, claims that relations with the United States have never been worse. The Russian president assured, however, that he will not attack NATO because of this.

“We have no aggressive intentions towards these states,” Putin said, according to a transcript released by the Kremlin on Thursday. “The idea that we will attack another country – Poland, the Baltic States and the Czechs are also scared – is complete nonsense. It’s just nonsense,” he added.

F-16 fighters

Asked about the military jets the West promised to send to Kiev, Putin said the aircraft would not change the situation on the battlefield. “We will destroy the aircraft just as we destroy tanks, armored personnel carriers and other equipment today, including multiple rocket launchers,” he said, adding that the F-16 could also carry nuclear weapons.

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He added that, if the F-16s used by Ukraine land or depart from foreign airfields, then they could launch attacks.

“Of course, if (the jets) are used from third country airfields, they will become legitimate targets for us, wherever they are located,” Putin said.

Earlier on Wednesday, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said the first planes were expected to arrive in Ukraine in the coming months. Belgium, Denmark, Norway and the Netherlands are among the countries that have pledged to donate F-16s to Kiev, while a coalition of countries has pledged to train Ukrainian pilots.