Transfer of F-16s to Ukraine to be considered ‘nuclear threat,’ says Russian FM Lavrov

Russia will consider the transfer of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine as a “nuclear threat,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with a Russian media outlet on July 13.

“During the hostilities, our military won’t check whether each specific aircraft of the specified type is equipped for the delivery of nuclear weapons or not,” Lavrov said.

Read also: NATO already training Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets, says NATO chief Stoltenberg

“The very fact of the appearance of such systems in the Armed Forces of Ukraine will be considered by us as a threat from the West in the nuclear sphere.”

Responding to a question about the possibility of Russia’s use of nuclear weapons in the war against Ukraine, Lavrov said the scenarios for the use of such weapons are “clearly defined in Russia’s military doctrine.”

The diplomat added that “the United States and its NATO satellites” allegedly create “risks of direct armed conflict” with Russia, which threatens with “catastrophic consequences.

Training and provision of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine – What is known

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has stated that Ukraine’s allies will individually determine the timing for training Ukrainian pilots to fly F-16s.

Read also: Ukrainian battlefield awareness software compatible with F-16 jets – minister

At the NATO summit in Vilnius, Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov signed a memorandum with his counterparts from 11 countries to create a coalition dedicated to the training of Ukrainian fighter pilots. The program may extend to include other types of fighter aircraft in addition to F-16s.

Besides Ukraine, the coalition includes the UK, the Netherlands, Denmark, Belgium, Canada, Luxembourg, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, and Sweden.

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced on May 19 that his country, along with the United States, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Denmark, have agreed to participate in training Ukrainian pilots to fly Western fighter jets.

Read also: Ministerial advisor shares his opinion on when Ukraine will receive F-16s

Romania revealed plans on July 6 to inaugurate a regional training center for F-16 pilots, which will be open to NATO partners and allies, including Ukraine.

The supply of fighter jets is contingent on the understanding that Ukraine will refrain from using them for strikes on Russian territory.

The training of Ukrainian pilots on F-16s could take from six to eight months, Dutch Defense Minister Karin Hildur said at a NATO public forum on July 12.

F-16 fighter jets may arrive in Ukraine during the first quarter of 2024, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on July 12.

Kuleba also revealed that training for Ukrainian pilots is expected to commence in August or early September.

Read also: Romania opens training center for Ukrainian pilots

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