Russia Questions NATO’s Involvement Over F-16 Transfer To Ukraine

Posted by: lukwago J in World news May 22, 2023

Following days after US president Joe Biden endorsed training programmes for Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets, Russia said the transfer would raise questions over NATO’s involvement in the conflict.

Russia’s ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov questioned the military alliance on what would happen if American soldiers took off from NATO airfields.

“ There is no infrastructure for the operation of the F-16 in Ukraine and the needed number of pilots and maintenance personnel is not there either,” said Antonov in remarks published on the embassy’s Telegram channel.

“ What will happen if the American fighters take off from NATO airfields controlled by foreign volunteers?”he questioned.

However this isn’t the first instance when Moscow has raised questions over the involvement of the multi role fighter aircraft.

Meanwhile on Sunday the Russian deputy foreign minister Alexander Grushko responded to questions and warned the west that providing Kyiv with F-16 fighter jets would carry colossal risks.

US approves the supply of $375M military aid to Ukraine

“ We see that western countries are still adhering to the escalation scenario. It involves colossal risks for themselves,” said Grushko.

Zelensky for long has been pushing the western allies to supply Kyiv with F-16 jets for months now.

The Ukrainian leader discussed the proposition yet again during his appearance at the G7 summit in Hiroshima, Japan.

The White House on Sunday approved the supply of new $375 million military aid for Ukraine. However this pledge comes after Biden agreed to training on F-16 fighter jets laying the groundwork for their eventual transfer to Kyiv.

Meanwhile Kyiv is in desperate need of more arms and advanced jets especially after Moscow’s Wagner private military unit claimed it had finally managed to take full control of the ruined eastern city of Bakhmut after months of vicious fighting.

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