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"A huge risk." The Russian Foreign Ministry is outraged by the announcement of handing over the F-16 to Ukraine

, 15:21, 20.05.2023
Estimated reading time: 2 minutes 1374

“Western countries continue to follow the path of escalation of the Ukrainian conflict. The Russian Federation will take into account their intention…

A huge risk. The announcement of handing over the F-16 to Ukraine
AliExpress WW

“Western countries continue to follow the path of escalation of the Ukrainian conflict. The Russian Federation will take into account their intention to transfer F-16 fighters to Kyiv” said Alexander Grushko, Russia's deputy foreign minister. This is the first comment by a representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation on the transfer of modern aircraft to Ukraine.

The statement quoted by the TASS agency was made on the sidelines of the 31st Assembly of the Council for Foreign and Defense Policy of the Russian Federation. The loudest topic of politicians' discussion was the issue of handing over the F-16 fighters to Ukraine.

The deputy head of the Russian foreign ministry did not hide his indignation at the media reports on this matter.

— There is a movement on the so-called escalation ladder. We see Western countries still sticking to the escalation scenario. This is a huge risk for them, he stressed.

On Friday, the American TV channel NBC reported, citing sources close to the White House, that the United States and its allies plan to provide the Ukrainian Armed Forces with F-16 fighter jets. The machines would be donated by Western European countries.

“Decisions already made”

The transfer of modern aircraft to Kyiv was also confirmed by an adviser at the Chancellery of the President of Ukraine, Mykhailo Podolak. In an interview with the Ukrainian Channel 24, the politician revealed that despite earlier statements denying such a decision, the decision has already been made.
— There are still two very intensively discussed issues, just like on the eve of the formation of the armored coalition. These are practically decisions already made. (…) They already realize that we will get all these weapons, including the F-16. Now the issues of logistical launch are being resolved, he said.

The media announcements were also commented on by Ukraine's Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov, who said that Ukrainian pilots “can't wait to start training on F-16 fighters”.

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