The US has approved the delivery of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine. Now Russia warns that the upcoming delivery poses a “huge risk” for the West, writes Al Jazeera with reference to TASS.
– We see that the West is still sticking to the escalation scenario, says Aleksandr Grushko, Deputy Foreign Minister, Russia.
There is still no agreement regarding the delivery of F16 fighter jets to Ukraine, but on Friday the US President, Joe Biden, approved the possible delivery of the aircraft.
A decision that was not received well from the Russian side. In a televised interview on the state news agency TASS channels, the country’s deputy foreign minister warned of the consequences that delivery of the F-16 would entail for the West, reports Al-Jazeera.
– Whatever happens, this will be taken into account by everyone
our plans, and we have every reason to achieve the goals we have set, says Aleksandr Grushko.
In his appeal to the outside world, the Ukrainian president has particularly raised the issue of combat aircraft. According to him, delivery of F-16s would make a big difference to Ukraine’s ability to turn its defensive war into an offensive one.
But until Friday, Zelenskyi’s appeal had not been heard, as allies in the West worried that a Russian response could mean a clear escalation of the war.