Moscow warns Westerners of “colossal risks”

2023-05-20 20:28:00

Russia’s reaction was swift. After Washington gave the green light to third-country deliveries of F-16s to Ukraine, Moscow warned Western countries that they would run “colossal risks” if they actually supplied Kiev with these American fighter jets, said Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko.

“We see that Western countries continue to adhere to the escalation scenario. This involves colossal risks for themselves,” he said in a quote published by the TASS news agency.

“In any case, we will take it into account in all our plans and we have all the means necessary to achieve the objectives we have set ourselves,” he added.

Meeting between Joe Biden and Volodymyr Zelensky

Implementation of the US decision to allow other countries to supply Lockheed Martin F-16s to Ukraine will be at the heart of the meeting scheduled for Sunday in Hiroshima, Japan between Joe Biden and Volodymyr Zelensky, on the sidelines of the G7. Taken Friday by the American president, this decision constitutes a turning point in the war in Ukraine at a time when the Ukrainian forces are preparing a counter-offensive. While the delivery of these fighter jets by third countries is subject to prior approval from Washington in order to protect American military technology, the United States has so far been opposed to giving the green light, citing the risks of escalation of the conflict, and asserting that it was not a priority. This even though certain European countries such as the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Poland… were ready to respond favorably to Ukrainian requests.

For months, Ukraine has been multiplying requests in this direction to strike Russian troops in depth and Volodymyr Zelensky does not hide his satisfaction at having won his case. This decision ” history will significantly help our Air Force “, he said. The announcement was also quickly welcomed by British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, as well as Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo and Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren.

Pilot training in Europe

« The UK will work with the US, the Netherlands, Belgium and Denmark to provide Ukraine with the combat air capability it needs “, affirmed the British Prime Minister, while the United Kingdom had pleaded Tuesday for a” international aircraft coalition “, while committing United to soon deliver anti-aircraft missiles and attack drones. They will be added to the long-range Storm Shadow cruise missiles that London announced last week that it had delivered to kyiv, becoming the first country to provide it with this type of armament.

According to an American official, Joe Biden assured of his ” support for a joint initiative to train Ukrainian pilots on fourth-generation combat aircraft, including F-16s », « As the training unfolds over the next few months, our coalition of nations participating in this effort will decide when to provide aircraft, how many, and who will provide them. “, he continued. ” The training will take place outside Ukraine at sites in Europe and will last for months “. It might start in the next few weeks.