Putin: We will destroy F-16s just as we destroy today’s tanks, armoured vehicles and other equipment

Russian President Vladimir Putin has slammed claims that Russia is planning to fight against Europe as utter nonsense. "As for the allegations that we are planning to invade Europe after Ukraine, this is utter nonsense meant solely to intimidate their population to make them pay more money," he said at a meeting with military pilots in the Tver Region. He noted that this narrative unfolds "amid the slumping economy and deteriorating living standards." "This is absolutely clear and is acknowledged by everyone. This is not propaganda. This is what is really happening. They need to justify themselves, so they are intimidating their population with a potential Russian threat while seeking to expand their dictation onto the entire world," Putin stressed. Putin has termed as nonsense the idea of Russia starting a conflict with NATO countries. Putin added that there was an environment of fear created by Western countries about a Russian threat to countries like Poland, the Czech Republic, or the Baltic states as a tactic to justify defence spending. Putin during the course of his speech accused Nato of moving closer to Russian borders, and not the other way around. His comments come at a time when tensions between both the sides have increased drastically. “They came right up to our borders. Did we go across the ocean to the borders of the United States? No, they are approaching us, and they have come very close,” Putin added. Meanwhile, Putin has said that if Western countries supply Ukraine with F-16 fighters, the aircraft will not alter the situation on the battlefield. “If they supply F-16s, and they are talking about this and are apparently training pilots, this will not change the situation on the battlefield. And we will destroy the aircraft just as we destroy today’s tanks, armoured vehicles and other equipment, including multiple rocket launchers,” Putin said. Putin’s remarks came after Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said that the aircraft should arrive in Ukraine in the coming months. Kyiv has been asking for F-16s. Countries like Belgium, Denmark, Norway and the Netherlands have pledged to donate F-16s, while other countries have said that they would train Ukrainian pilots in their use.

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