Russia warns that the delivery of F-16 fighters to Ukraine will not alter the course of the war

MADRID, 23 May. (EUROPA PRESS) -

Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov has warned that the supply of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine by its Western allies will fail to turn the tide of the war, which began in late February 2022.

"The reaction (of Russia to the supply of F-16) will be a systematic continuation of the implementation of the goals and objectives of the special military operation," said the Russian deputy foreign minister, according to TASS.

US President Joe Biden said Friday during the G7 summit in Japan that Washington supports its allies training Ukrainian pilots for the use of F-16 fighters, although no concrete decision has been made regarding the delivery. of these devices.

Following this, Ukraine's main European allies have supported the US idea and have confirmed that they will at least train their pilots. Russia, for its part, already warned over the weekend that the possible delivery of F-16 model fighter jets could carry "colossal risks" for the West.

Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Yuti Ignat on Tuesday put the number of Western fighter jets needed to replace and modernize the current fleet of Ukrainian fighters, made up of post-Soviet-era units, at about 150. In addition, he confirmed that "dozens" of fighters will arrive in kyiv.