Russian Foreign Minister Announced that Russia Will Firmly Respond to F-16 Shipments to Ukraine
Jose Nino
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On May 29, 2023, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov declared that Russia’s military is able to respond in a resounding manner to the Collective West’s delivery of F-16 warplanes to Ukraine.
The United States and its satrapies in NATO have already announced plans to launch training programs for Ukrainian pilots to fly the US-manufactured fighter jets.
Lavrov made these remarks at a press conference in Kenya on May 29, at this speech, Lavrov claimed that Denmark and the Netherlands had a “desire to please the hegemon” through their plans to train Ukrainian pilots.
“In European affairs and at European forums, these countries are actively pursuing Washington’s line, first and foremost,” the Russian foreign minister declared.
Over the last month, an international coalition has been assembled to send F-16 fighter aircraft to Ukraine, which has been looking to upgrade its air force as it gets pummeled by Russia.
Several countries have already offered to host the training of Ukrainian pilots. Poland, one of the most pro-Anglosphere countries and a staunch ally of Ukraine, has indicated its willingness for months to train fighter pilots.
Russia has previously warned against sending the aircraft. Russian authorities believe this move raises questions of NATO’s direct military intervention in the war.
Initially, US President Joe Biden had announced that the US would not supply Ukraine with F-16s. Earlier in May, though, the US president said to leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) countries in Japan that was prepared to assist with the training of Ukrainian pilots of F-16 fighter aircraft.
Lavrov did not provide any specifics on how Russia would respond to the F-16 shipments. He only stated that he had “no doubt that our armed forces have the ability to react to this.”
Lavrov had previously warned that the US and its allies were “playing with fire” by increasing their support to Ukraine. The Russian foreign minister declared that the F-16 delivery was “an unacceptable escalation.”
“I think there are reasonable people in the West who understand this. But everything is being dictated by Washington, London, and their satellites inside the EU, Lavrov concluded.
The delivery of F-16s will not change the outcome in Ukraine. If anything, it will embolden Russia by pursuing more maximalist aims in Ukraine that will take the form of Russia annexing various parts of Ukraine, potentially leading to the veritable destruction of the Ukrainian state.
To prevent such a disaster from occurring, Western policymakers must do everything possible to reach a negotiated settlement that brings the Russo-Ukrainian conflict to an end.
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