Lavrov criticizes delivery of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine
Published: Thursday, May 30th 2024, 16:51
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With regard to Western support for Ukraine, Russia has reiterated its criticism of the planned deliveries of F-16 fighter jets.
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in an interview published by the Russian state news agency Ria Novosti on Thursday that F-16 aircraft are also known from the NATO concept of so-called nuclear sharing, where they are intended as a means of transportation. "Therefore, we cannot but consider the delivery of these systems to the Kiev regime as a deliberate signal act by NATO in the nuclear field."
Russia's propaganda has repeatedly portrayed the F-16 deliveries to Ukraine as a potential nuclear threat. However, there is absolutely no question that Ukraine could equip the aircraft with nuclear weapons.
Instead, Kiev says it urgently needs the aircraft in order to turn around the currently very difficult situation at the front. Ukrainian pilots have completed training for this type of aircraft. The first F-16s, which countries such as the Netherlands and Denmark have promised, are expected to arrive in Ukraine in a few weeks, according to unofficial information.
Meanwhile, Russia's Foreign Minister Lavrov also used the interview to praise the role of his own ally China. Should there ever be a peace conference attended by both Russia and Ukraine, this would also be a result of Chinese efforts "to find a solution to the Ukraine crisis", said Lavrov.
The background to the comments is a Ukraine peace summit, which is due to begin in Switzerland in just over two weeks and is currently causing great resentment in Moscow. Russia has not been invited to the meeting, at which peace prospects are to be worked out as a first step.
However, Moscow also rejects the peace plan discussed there by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi as unrealistic. Ukraine hopes to convince neutral countries or even countries that are friends with Russia of its position, as well as countries that support it. China in particular is being courted.
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