Putin says any F-16 jets donated to Ukraine will be shot down but says it is 'complete nonsense' that Russia will attack any NATO nation and mocks 'scared' Czech Republic
Daily MailMar 28
Ukraine: Putin Issues Warning on Use of NATO F-16s
The Facts
Coming off the back of an election win that secured his fifth term in office, shortly followed by the worst terrorist attack on Russian soil in nearly 20 years, Russian Pres. Vladimir Putin on Wednesday issued words of warning to Ukraine's NATO allies over the delivery of US-made F-16 fighter jets to the war-torn country.
In a speech to Russian pilots in the Tver region, Putin started off his remarks by stating that Russia has no designs on any NATO country. "The idea that we will attack some other country — Poland, the Baltic States, and the Czechs are also being scared — is complete nonsense," Putin said. "It's just drivel."
The Spin
Pro-Russia narrative
Russia has been consistent throughout the conflict that if F-16 fighter jets are delivered to Ukraine, they will have to be targeted and destroyed — as is the case with all other foreign-provided weaponry. Russia has also been consistent that if F-16s stage attacks from third countries, the bases in those countries would become legitimate military targets too.
Nerd narrative
There's an 8% chance that there will be a direct conflict between Russia and any NATO member state before 2027, according to the Metaculus community prediction.